Nadal brought Federer's winning streak to a halt

Dubai: Second seed Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer's Dubai winning streak by defeating the top seed 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the 2006 final.

Up until that point, Federer had progressed in straight sets — although one of his more intriguing matches was his second round meeting with Mohammad Gareeb. The Kuwaiti came within two points of winning the first set and just one break of serve separated them in the second as Federer came through 7-6, 6-4.

Nadal was taken to three sets by Paul-Henri Mathieu before receiving a walkover in the second round when Younes Al Aynaoui withdrew.

The Spaniard then beat Tim Henman and Rainer Schuettler in straight sets, but some of the biggest headlines of the week were generated when fourth seed Andre Agassi was defeated 7-5, 7-5 in the second round by Bjorn Phau. The men's doubles was won by Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett after they overcame top seeds Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor 1-6, 6-2, 10-1.

Women's game

Justine Henin, who had been unable to play in 2005, returned as the number four seed and earned her third Dubai title with a 7-5, 6-2 win over third seed Maria Sharapova. Amelie Mauresmo was the top seed, but she fell to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals and second seed and defending champion Lindsay Davenport lost to Sharapova in the semis.

Rain caused some long delays on the Thursday and Friday, but Kveta Peschke and Francesca Schiavone won the doubles, beating Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova 3-6, 7-6, 6-3.