Great Britain’s Jodie Anna Burrage, a wild card entrant, stunned top-seeded Polina Kudermetova in straight sets to clinch the prestigious singles title at the 27th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Burrage triumphed 6-3, 6-3 in a swift 64-minute match, marking the pinnacle of her career in this annual $100,000 (Dh365,000) tournament, which made its debut in 1998. Burrage was presented with her crystal trophy by Khalaf Al Habtoor, the chairman of the Al Habtoor Group and the founder of the competition. Al Habtoor expressed his admiration for the new champion, stating, “This week was a celebration of tennis in Dubai. It was exhilarating to witness such high-caliber play throughout the event. Jodie Anna, entering as a wild card, captivated everyone with her dedication and resolve. The future looks bright for you, and we wish you all the best.”
Anastasia Tikhonova, the previous year’s singles champion who was eliminated early this time, partnered with Czech player Anastasia Detiuc to secure the doubles title. They defeated second seeds Isabelle Haverlag and Elena Pridankina 6-3, 6-7 (6), 10-8. The singles final was a thrilling encounter, with both players vying for dominance from the outset. Burrage seized control early by breaking serve to lead 2-0 in the first set. She maintained her momentum, closing out the set 6-3 in precisely 30 minutes.
Kudermetova, hampered by a shoulder strain, took a medical timeout, which briefly revived her game as she broke serve to lead 1-0. However, Burrage quickly regained control, breaking back and subsequently breaking again in the sixth game to establish a 4-2 lead. She sealed the set and match 6-3, just past the one-hour mark. “It’s been a grueling week, and the fatigue finally caught up with me,” Kudermetova admitted, comforted by her sister Veronika, a former top-10 WTA player. “I’m exhausted and looking forward to some much-needed rest before gearing up for the new season.”
Burrage was overcome with emotion after securing her career-defining victory. “This year has been challenging, with four surgeries on my wrist and six months off the court,” she revealed, tears streaming down her face. “These are tears of joy. I entered this week without any expectations, and now I stand here with the trophy and the biggest win of my career. I’ve endured a lot of pain, and I feel I’ve earned this moment.”
Tikhonova expressed her delight at her first collaboration with another Anastasia, winning the doubles title. “It seems something positive happened to me this week,” she said. “I’m thrilled with how we stayed focused as a team, especially since we were playing together for the first time. This is a wonderful way to conclude the season.”
Results: Singles final: Jodie Anna Burrage bt Polina Kudermetova 6-3, 6-3. Doubles final: Anastasia Detiuc/Anastasia Tikhonova bt Isabelle Haverlag/Elena Pridankina 6-3, 6-7 (6), 1-0 (8).
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