World number two Simona Halep has won her 20th WTA title, beating Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) in the Dubai Tennis Championships final.
The Romanian, who reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January, struggled in the first set but fought back to lift the trophy.
Rybakina, 20, playing her fourth final this year, took the two-time Grand Slam winner to a third-set tiebreak.
“I played so hard, I really wanted to win this tournament,” said Halep.
World number 19 Rybakina broke into the top 50 in September and in 2020 has reached the finals of the Shenzhen Open and St Petersburg Ladies Trophy as well as winning the Hobart International.
Victory at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre is former world number one Halep’s first title of 2020.
“I have such crazy emotions right now, it has been a great match,” Halep added.
“Rybakina is still really young and has many years ahead of her in the game.
“It was a little bit tough, I was too nervous. You have to fight for every ball, I think I gave my best this week.” – BBC
