Champions vouch to return for title defence at Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge

The newly-crowned champions departed, although with a promise to return and defend their titles at the next edition of the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge, in 2024.

Traditionally held at the end of the ITF Women’s Circuit season, this year’s 26th edition of the annual tournament saw new champions in both singles and doubles.

Anastasia Tikhonova brushed aside Dutch girl Arianne Hartono 6-1, 6-4 for the singles crown, while the top-seeded pair of Timea Babos teamed up with former world No.2 Vera Zvonareva for a 6-1, 2-6, 1-0 (7) win against Great Britain’s Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson for the doubles title.

Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, President of UAE Tennis Federation (UAE TF) joined Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Founder of the Al Habtoor Group, Ahmad Abdul Malik from the UAE TF and Tournament Director Noura Badawi, to present the trophies and prizes to the finalists at the Habtoor Grand Resort, on Sunday.

Winning her biggest career win so far, the 22-year-old Tikhonova was thrilled at the prospects going forward in her young tennis path.

“This one [title] is the biggest so far. But I feel this one is the start and I have my eyes on a Grand Slam in the future,” she narrated.

“This is my first time in Dubai and I simply love it here. I am surely going to be back to defend my title here next year. That I am returning to Dubai in 2024 has already been decided for sure,” she smiled.

There will be a definite improvement in Tikhonova’s current ranking of No.237 with the addition of the 150 Ranking Points. Her first win on the ITF Tour came at the 15,000 ITF Shymkent in Kazkhstan, in February 2021. She also won the 60K ITF Pretoria in South Africa and her last triumph was at the 40K ITF Bhopal in India.

Tikhonova travelled back on Monday along with her mother with the sole intention of getting some well-deserved rest in Moscow. “It’s time to be with family and friends especially at this festive time to enjoy such a special moment of my career,” she disclosed.

“After a few days of rest, I will start preparing for the Australian Open [starting on January 14], where I hope to just about make it into the main draw. And I would be okay even if I have to go through the qualifying rounds in Melbourne,” Tikhonova shrugged.

“I would be more than happy if I return to Dubai next year as someone who is in the top-100 of the rankings.”

Doubles champions Babos and Zvonareva were also keen to be there at this time next year. “I live here, so it won’t be too much of me to come and defend my title next year,” Zvonareva said.

Babos, who had also won here last year along with Kristina Mladenovic, was certain she wanted to be in Dubai in 2024 to attempt a hat-trick. “The new season will have its fair share of challenges for me. I’ve still got to plan in detail. But I will be back for the Dubai Open in February, and for sure I will return for this one at the end of the year,” Babos promised.

The Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge began as a $25,000 (Dhs91,250) event that was classified as a $75,000 tournament between 1999 to 2015. In 2016, this was upgraded to a $100,000+H competition.

The brainchild of Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Founding Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, 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.

Included in the long list of past champions are former Grand Slam winners and top-class players such as 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).