Look: Action and prize ceremony at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and member of the Dubai Council, attended the official closing ceremony of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships where she presented the women’s singles trophy to Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko

Ostapenko capped a magnificent week by defeating Veronika Kudermetova 6-0, 6-4 on Saturday to claim the trophy in front of a packed crowd.

What made her victory all the more remarkable is that she had to overcome no less than four former Grand Slam champions during the week, fight back from losing the first set on three occasions and to fend off a match point before overcoming Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals

“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 then back to Dubai.”

The packed stands watched a thrilling encounter as Ostapenko powered to the title in style

Fireworks and dancers wowed the fans as part of the closing ceremony

The pair then returned to court to face each other again in the doubles final, with Ostapenko partnering Lyudmyla Kichenok and second seeded Veronika Kudermetova teaming with Elise Mertens. Kudermetova received some consolation for her singles defeat as the Australian Open semi-finalists beat Kichenok and Ostapenko 6-1 6-3.