At 41, Vera Zvonareva, a former world No. 2, shows no signs of slowing down as she competes in both the singles and doubles finals at the 28th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge, held at Habtoor Grand Resort this Sunday.
Facing the 20-year-old rising star Petra Marcinko, the winner of the Fujairah W75 Championships, Zvonareva will later join forces with fellow Russian Rada Zolotareva against the Thai-Chinese duo Xinyu Gao and Manachaya Sawangkaew in the doubles final.
The veteran Russian player received a warm reception after a grueling 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4 victory over British teenager Mika Stojsavljevic, the 2024 US Open girls champion.
Despite a singles match that stretched over three hours, Zvonareva returned to the court shortly after, partnering with Zolotareva to defeat the Indian pair Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and Ankita Raina 3-6, 7-5, 10-3.
The Russian duo will now face Xinyu Gao and Manachaya Sawangkaew in the doubles final, following their opponents’ hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win against Olivia Gadecki and Mika Stojsavljevic in the semifinals.
Reflecting on her journey, Zvonareva, who received a singles wild card, commented, “It was a tough match today, and I anticipate another challenging final tomorrow.”
“Today’s match could have gone either way. These young players are eager for victory, but I am determined not to give up easily. I’ve come a long way, especially after my shoulder surgery, and I am focused on the finals,” she added.
Zvonareva will face Croatia’s Petra Marcinko, who recently turned 20 and claimed the W75 title in Fujairah. Marcinko, despite a slow start, found her rhythm and said, “Last week boosted my confidence. I’m prepared for a tough match against Vera [Zvonareva], and I’m ready to be the underdog. My coach and I will strategize for the upcoming challenge.”
The singles final will commence at 1 pm, followed by the doubles final, with free entry for the public at Habtoor Grand Resort.
