UAE. Jelena Ostapenko defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-0 6-4 on Saturday to claim the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships trophy. The WTA Tour event, held at Dubai Duty Free’s Tennis Stadium, attracts a vast audience from around the world and offers a powerful marketing showcase for the leading travel retailer.
“We congratulate not only our new champion Jelena Ostapenko, but her opponent Veronika Kudermetova on her impressive week,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free.
“Both have performed with distinction in overcoming elite opponents, and fully deserved to be in the final. We wish them well during the rest of the season and look forward to welcoming them back to Dubai.”
Ostapenko had to overcome four former Grand Slam champions during the week. She also fought back from losing the first set on three occasions and fended off a match point before overcoming Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals.
“I’m really happy with the title,” said Ostapenko after winning her fifth career tournament and the first since Eastbourne in June 2021. “I think in general the whole week I was playing really well, had some great wins. I really was focusing, ready for a battle today.
“It’s really great to win the singles title, of course, being in the finals of the doubles. I was not expecting it because I had tough matches in singles. I was playing doubles for fun, but making the finals was great.”
“Jelena played very well today,” said Kudermetova. “She played very aggressive from the beginning of the match. I hope I can take a lesson from that final and next time I will do better.”
The pair also faced each other in the doubles final, with Kudermetova teaming up with Elise Mertens to beat Ostapenko and partner Lyudmyla Kichenok 6-1 6-3.
“We said at the beginning of the week that, despite so many top ten players competing, there was no certainty that one of them would win the tournament, and so it proved to be,” said Tournament Director Salah Tahlak.
“Only one seed managed to reach the quarter-finals, which underlines the fantastic depth in the women’s game. There were so many thrilling matches throughout the week as upsets came thick and fast, and now we eagerly look forward to what is certain to be an equally exciting ATP week.”
The men’s ATP 500 tournament, now in its 30th year, runs from 21-16 February. World number one Novak Djokovic is bidding for his sixth Dubai title.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
