Croatia's Petra Marcinko Hopes To Return After Grand UAE Double

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Khalaf Al Habtoor, the Founding Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group of Companies has hailed the annual“celebration of tennis” following the conclusion of the 28^th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge on Sunday.

Croatia's Petra Marcinko became the latest champion at this W100 ITF World Tennis Tour event, the oldest women's tennis tournament in the region with a thrilling 6-3, 6-3 win over former world No. 2 Vera Zvonareva.

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Marcinko, who also won last weekend's inaugural Fujairah W75 Championships, remained sharp and focused throughout the week to join a galaxy of champions here including the likes of Sorana Cirstea (2020), Ana Bogdan (2019), Peng Shuai (2018), Belinda Bencic (2017), Kimiko Date-Krumm (2012), Sania Mirza (2010), Maria Kirilenko (2007), Kateryna Bondarenko (2006), Marion Bartoli (2005), Jelena Jankovic (2003) and inaugural winner Kyra Nagy (1998).

The Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge began as a $25,000 (AED 91,250) event that was later classified as a $75,000 tournament between 1999 to 2015. In 2016, the event was upgraded to a $100,000+H competition on the ITF Women's Circuit.

The annual tournament has managed to live up to its hype of encouraging the development of women's tennis in the UAE and the region, while raising the profile of the sport across the Arab world.

“This tournament is an annual celebration of tennis. I enjoy this event myself, and the idea always is to keep ourselves happy through sport in keeping with what our rulers in the UAE want to achieve. This tournament keeps on getting better each year, and we try out various things to ensure we can make the competition better,” Al Habtoor promised.

Thrilled at pushing the borders of the sport even at 41 years old, Zvonareva was calm.“It's been a great week for me personally. I was handed out a wild card here and I have more than proved to myself at least that I have the game and the will to fight against some of the best women players. Honestly, I have no results whatsoever. Things have happened just the way I had wanted,” runner-up Zvonareva admitted.

“For sure I can compete at the highest level, but I am yet to make up my mind if I want to compete all over again. For the moment, I do not have a decision on whether I want to get back on tour. Right now, I need to rest my body and recover,” the 41-year-old added.

Marcinko, who turned 20 last Thursday [December 4] was happy to become the latest winner here.“Six years back [2019] I was champion in back-to-back tournaments in Fujairah and Dubai on the ITF Junior Circuit. So to come and accomplish the same feat all over again on the women's circuit is something special for me,” she smiled.

Although starting at No. 103 in the WTA Rankings last week, Sunday's 150 points took Marcinko up to No. 82 thus assuring her of a spot in the main draw of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

“I love this place as it seems to bring out the best in me. My next goal now will be to do well in the Grand Slams. I get crucial 150 WTA Ranking Points due to my win and this should help me get a direct entry into the main rounds at the Australian Open. Dubai is my favourite and it has certainly played a role,” she added.

“For sure, I will be back next year,” Marcinko insisted.

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