Dubai: 2001 was the year that the WTA Tour arrived in Dubai for the first time — Martina Hingis was the top seed and she claimed the title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over veteran Nathalie Tauziat.
But, as with the men, reputation and past achievements often count for nothing in Dubai, with reigning French Open champion Mary Pierce being upset by qualifier Rachel McQuillan in the quarter-finals. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario didn't even survive her first match, losing in three sets to Russian qualifier Lina Krasnoroutskaya.
The doubles title went to Yayuk Basuki and Caroline Vis, who beat Asa Carlsson and Karina Habsudova 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.
Juan Carlos Ferrero had lost the men's final the year before, but he responded by winning the title himself this time, beating top seed Marat Safin in the final.
The Russian was forced to retire with a back injury as he trailed 6-2, 3-1. He revealed that he had originally suffered the injury during his semi-final victory over Thomas Johansson and had considered not playing the final at all.
Australian legend Patrick Rafter was there, but was beaten in the second round by 1999 French Open finalist Andrei Medvedev. Yevgeny Kafelnikov returned, but he failed once again to make an impression as he lost in the second round to Johansson.
In the doubles, Joshua Eagle and Sandon Stolle upset top seeds Kafelnikov and Max Mirnyi in the semi-finals before defeating Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
