A memorable outing for Volkova in Al Wasl Open

Dubai: Former Tunisian Davis Cup player Essam Jalali and Ukrainian Tanya Volkova, a newcomer to Dubai, secured the men's and women's singles titles, respectively at the Al Wasl Open Tennis Championships.

Tanya Volkova hits a double-fisted backhand return to Jennifer Smith in the women's singles final of the Al Wasl Open. The Ukrainian, who has not played in competitions for the past five years, clinched her second title in as many weeks. Rangarajan/Gulf News

Jalali scored a brisk 6-3, 6-0 win against Denmark's Mikkel Schultz in the men's final, while Volkova overpowered rapidly-improving teenager Jennifer Smith 6-4, 6-4. Shaikh Hasher Maktoum, Dubai Director of Information, gave away the prizes to the winners. Playing some solid baseline game, Jalali did not allow Schultz to settle down. After both players had tested each other, the 23-year-old Tunisian broke his opponent in the eighth game and then held serve to take the first set 6-3. With the heat and humidity at high levels, Schultz caved in against some superb returns from Jalali. The Tunisian secured three successive breaks of serve to wrap up the set, and match, 6-0. "I think the key was in me not allowing him to settle down," Jalali said. "I owe a lot of my success to my general manager Fadi Abu Rahal (from the Sharjah Grand Hotel)."