Dubai: Dries Depla and Grace Talih qualified to represent the UAE at next year's season-opening Australian Open Amateur Tennis Championships to be held alongside the Australian Open in Melbourne in January 2010.
Dries won the men's singles with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win against Michael Vanherk, while Grace Talih took the women's crown with an equally gritty 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win against Veronica Brockx.
In the men's final, it was Vanherk taking the early initiative as he stormed to a quick 4-1 lead with some strong serves and heavy groundstrokes. However, Depla kept up with his consistent gameplan to fight back at 3-4. But Vanherk notched up another break to wrap up the set 6-3.
In the second set, Depla stuck to the baseline to cleverly move his opponent around for a 4-0 lead. There was no stopping Depla after this as he took the set 6-2 to draw level.
The third set was a repeat of the second with Depla dominating a tired-looking Vanherk from the baseline to win set and match in more than two hours of action.
In the women's final, it was Brockx making early inroads by taking the opening set 6-4. But Grace fought back with some hard-hitting groundstrokes to take the second set 6-3.
With Brockx developing blisters, Grace pressed on the accelerator to easily take set and match 6-1.
KIA Motors Marketing Manager SK Ahmad gave away the prizes in the presence of Slah Bramly, technical director, Tennis Emirates and senior management officials from Marbella Resort.
The annual tournament was sponsored by KIA Motors, Marbella Resort Sharjah, Mahesh Bhupathi Team Tennis Academy and Head.
Results: (Men's singles semifinals) Michael Vanherk bt Neil Bullilan 6-2, 6-3; Dries Depla bt Kirk Rebuyas 6-1, 6-2. (Women's singles) Grace Talih bt Beauty MacLeod 4-6, 6-4, 7-6; Veronica Brockz bt Sifia Faisal 6-1, 6-2.
