PierreC
02-25-2007, 10:54 AM
Results - Saturday, February 24, 2007
Singles - Final
(1) Justine Henin (BEL) d. (2/WC) Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) 64 75
Doubles - Final
(1) Black/Huber (ZIM/RSA) d. (WC) Kuznetsova/Molik (RUS/AUS) 76(6) 64
Final Facts
- Henin has now won Dubai each of the four times she has entered; her perfect 16-0 record at the event also includes title runs in 2003 (beating Capriati and Seles back-to-back in the semis and final), 2004 (beating Kuznetsova in the final) and 2006 (beating Sharapova in the final).
- Henin won her first Tour singles title of the year in her second start (she reached the semifinals at Paris [Indoors] two weeks ago).
- Henin is now 30-15 in Tour singles finals; that record includes 5-4 in major finals, 1-0 in Tour Championships finals, 1-0 in Olympic finals and 9-3 in Tier I finals.
- Mauresmo is now 1-1 in Tour singles finals this year (she won in Antwerp last week) and 24-20 lifetime; this was her second Dubai final, having won in 2002.
- With the championship match victory, Henin breaks her head-to-head tie with Mauresmo to 7-6; the Belgian was 2-3 against the Frenchwoman last season, two of those defeats coming on the game's biggest stages, in the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals.
- This was the first time in the event's seven-year history that the No.1 and No.2-seeded players squared off in the singles final.
- Black and Huber's championship victory extended their impressive 2007 winning streak to 18 matches (15 of which have been in straight sets) and four tournaments (having also won the Australian Open, Paris [Indoors] and Antwerp); this is the duo's seventh title win as a team; Black now owns 31 career Tour doubles titles, while Huber holds 19.
Quotes
Justine Henin, 2007 Dubai Duty Free Women's Open singles champion: "It was hard for me this week; I've had a lot of ups and downs, but I kept fighting. I've been very positive. Each point has been important for me this week. I think I deserved it today. I love this place."
"Sure I had a great year last year, but that's already in the past. I love tennis so much and it's my passion, so every time I walk on the court, it's to give my best and to enjoy the moment. I love competition. I'm sure I'll come out even stronger with more time."
Amélie Mauresmo, 2007 Dubai Duty Free Women's Open singles runner-up:
"I'm really proud of showing the crowd in Dubai some of my best tennis; unfortunately, I didn't get the title but I really enjoyed it here. I said at the beginning of the week it was going to be difficult to get through to the end - I almost got there. It was only the matter of a few points here and there. She played some great shots at the right time."
Liezel Huber, 2007 Dubai Duty Free Women's Open doubles champion (with Cara Black):
"We're really excited; I can't believe we won. This is almost as big as a Grand Slam it seems. All in all, we were happy with our performances. We're tired now, but this is the end of the trip. We have three weeks off now."
Singles - Final
(1) Justine Henin (BEL) d. (2/WC) Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) 64 75
Doubles - Final
(1) Black/Huber (ZIM/RSA) d. (WC) Kuznetsova/Molik (RUS/AUS) 76(6) 64
Final Facts
- Henin has now won Dubai each of the four times she has entered; her perfect 16-0 record at the event also includes title runs in 2003 (beating Capriati and Seles back-to-back in the semis and final), 2004 (beating Kuznetsova in the final) and 2006 (beating Sharapova in the final).
- Henin won her first Tour singles title of the year in her second start (she reached the semifinals at Paris [Indoors] two weeks ago).
- Henin is now 30-15 in Tour singles finals; that record includes 5-4 in major finals, 1-0 in Tour Championships finals, 1-0 in Olympic finals and 9-3 in Tier I finals.
- Mauresmo is now 1-1 in Tour singles finals this year (she won in Antwerp last week) and 24-20 lifetime; this was her second Dubai final, having won in 2002.
- With the championship match victory, Henin breaks her head-to-head tie with Mauresmo to 7-6; the Belgian was 2-3 against the Frenchwoman last season, two of those defeats coming on the game's biggest stages, in the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals.
- This was the first time in the event's seven-year history that the No.1 and No.2-seeded players squared off in the singles final.
- Black and Huber's championship victory extended their impressive 2007 winning streak to 18 matches (15 of which have been in straight sets) and four tournaments (having also won the Australian Open, Paris [Indoors] and Antwerp); this is the duo's seventh title win as a team; Black now owns 31 career Tour doubles titles, while Huber holds 19.
Quotes
Justine Henin, 2007 Dubai Duty Free Women's Open singles champion: "It was hard for me this week; I've had a lot of ups and downs, but I kept fighting. I've been very positive. Each point has been important for me this week. I think I deserved it today. I love this place."
"Sure I had a great year last year, but that's already in the past. I love tennis so much and it's my passion, so every time I walk on the court, it's to give my best and to enjoy the moment. I love competition. I'm sure I'll come out even stronger with more time."
Amélie Mauresmo, 2007 Dubai Duty Free Women's Open singles runner-up:
"I'm really proud of showing the crowd in Dubai some of my best tennis; unfortunately, I didn't get the title but I really enjoyed it here. I said at the beginning of the week it was going to be difficult to get through to the end - I almost got there. It was only the matter of a few points here and there. She played some great shots at the right time."
Liezel Huber, 2007 Dubai Duty Free Women's Open doubles champion (with Cara Black):
"We're really excited; I can't believe we won. This is almost as big as a Grand Slam it seems. All in all, we were happy with our performances. We're tired now, but this is the end of the trip. We have three weeks off now."