Former professionals Peter Wessels and Magali De Lattre were the leading lights as the Abu Dhabi Wilson Tennis Cup drew to a close at Zayed Sport City on Friday.
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Dutchman Wessels, who peaked at No. 72 in the world in 2005 and has career winnings of almost $1m (Dh3.67m), beat 20-year-old Filipino Kirk Rebuyas 6-1, 6-3 in the Men’s Singles Open.
De Lattre had a much stiffer test in the final of the Women’s Singles Open against teenage Indian Sanjana Sudhir, the Portuguese eventually winning 6-4, 6-4. Rebuyas put up a gallant effort against his 35-year-old opponent, whose best career win was the 2000 ATP tournament in Newport.
As a youngster, Wessels reached the singles semi-finals at junior Wimbledon and the US Open in 1995, and captured the Roland Garros doubles title with countryman Raemon Sluiter the same year.
Wessels’ gigantic serve eventually proved too much for Rebuyas, although the Dutchman admitted he’d been in a game.
“The score was pretty easy but it was tough there. He was tough and it was a matter of hanging in there and seeing what happens,” he said.
“On the other hand, he made a lot of mistakes today so he kept me in the game. I served very well and he made a couple of easy mistakes, and that gave me a lot of confidence.
“He’s a lot younger than I am and he’s only going to get better. Hopefully for him, he learns from that and he can use it for the other tournaments.”
Wessels recaptured the title he won at the inaugural event in 2013 when he beat the UAE’s top tennis player, Omar Behrouzian. For 27-year-old De Lattre, this was her third Abu Dhabi title in succession.
The former world No. 334, who has 13 career ITF titles, was forced to retire in 2011 due to a lack of sponsorship. She was pushed all the way by her 18-year-old opponent, who had led for large chunks of the second set.
“That was a really tough game. I kept playing and I believed in myself to the end and kept fighting,” said De Lattre. “It’s not easy now not being professional because I don’t play as much, I don’t train as much as before. But, I love tennis, I love playing. It’s my passion that makes me win this kind of match.
“Since retiring it’s been tough because I retired due to financial problems. It’s not because I was injured or didn’t enjoy playing anymore. I didn’t have any more sponsors and I wasn’t going to push anymore so I came to the UAE to work.
“It’s my third time at this tournament and my third win in a row, so I’m happy. Inshallah, I will be here next year defending my title and going for a fourth trophy.”
