Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Croatian tennis player Petra Marcinko claimed the 28th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge title after defeating Russian veteran Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-3 in the final held at the Habtoor Grand Resort in Dubai. The young player showed confidence and strong control throughout the match, securing an important win on UAE soil. This victory comes just one week after she won the Fujairah W75 Championships, marking two consecutive triumphs in the UAE.
Marcinko, who is only 20 years old, had earlier achieved a similar back-to-back success in 2019 on the ITF Junior Circuit by winning tournaments in Fujairah and Dubai. Six years later, she has become the only player to repeat this achievement at the same destinations. After the final, she was crowned champion by Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman of the organising committee, in the presence of senior officials from the UAE Tennis Federation, including Ahmed Abdul Malik and Nasser Al Marzooki.
The title in Dubai adds to Marcinko’s outstanding performance throughout the 2025 season. She began the year by securing her first WTA 125 title at the ATV Tennis Open in Rome. She continued her progress with two more tournament wins in the USA, claiming trophies at the Landisville Challenge and the Tyler Challenge in August and October.
Marcinko’s latest victory at the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge strengthens her position as one of the most promising young talents in women’s tennis. Her consistency, confidence and continuous growth have gained her international attention, making her a rising star to watch in upcoming global tournaments.
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