Dubai: Romania’s Alexandra Dulgheru claimed her eighth ITF women’s singles title when she handed a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm at the 17th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa on Saturday.
A winner here in 2012, Date-Krumm was headed to become the only woman to win the singles crown on two occasions but Dulgheru got a good measure of the crafty Japanese with her smooth all-round game to win in exactly an hour and a half.
Mohammad Al Mazroui, Managing Director, Al Habtoor Group presented the trophies to the two finalists in the presence of members of the Board of Directors from Tennis Emirates, Ahmad Abdul Malek, Sarah Baker and Khalid Al Ali.
“This trophy is extra special because I have won against an extra special player like Kimiko. It was a tough final and I was not really sure where I would measure against her,” Dulgheru told media after her win.
“She’s such a great player and an ambassador for women’s tennis. I knew I had to be at my best today and really focus on my game all the time while also trying to move her around,” she added.
Though disappointed at not winning the title a second time here, Date-Krumm tried to look at the positives. “Last week I was not even ready to play and now I am a losing finalist. It is an achievement for me considering that I had such severe injuries last month where I could not even walk,” the 44-year-old recalled.
“It’s not very often that one reaches a final and I should have gone all the way and won. This is very disappointing,” she shrugged.
Dulgheru made her move with a break in the eighth game to go 5-3 up and then served out the set 6-3 in 45 minutes. In the second set, Date-Krumm altered her game a bit and reaped the benefit with a break in the sixth for a 4-2 cushion.
But Dulgheru broke right back and held to draw level 4-4 before registering another break to serve out set and match. “Though this was not my best game, I am still very happy because I could win against a top-class player and get my confidence back. It’s a nice way to finish the season,” the 25-year-old Dulgheru said.
The win also pulls the Romanian with a career best ranking of No. 26 in 2011, into the top 100 and a huge chance of making it into the main draw for the season-opening Australian Open in January. “That’s like a bonus and I am glad that everything worked out for me today,” Dulgheru added.
Earlier, Vitalia Diatchenko and Alexandra Panova got the better of Lyudmula Kichenok and Olga Savchuk 3-6, 6-2, 10-4 to take the doubles crown.
