Djokovic and Gulbis Claim Titles of Dubai and Delray Beach

HEAD racquet rebels Novak Djokovic and Ernests Gulbis both triumphed this past weekend with Djokovic’s dramatic win at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships and Gulbis’ victory at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.

ATP World Ranked No. 2 Novak Djokovic, playing with Head racquet YouTek™ Speed Pro, defended last year’s title in Dubai against fellow HEAD player Mikhail Youzhny in game sets of 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. Appearing in his first final of the year, the Serb won his 17th career title in a three hour 21-minute match that had to be continued on a second day due to extreme weather conditions.

Youzhny, who trusts in a YouTek™Extreme Pro, improved to No. 13 in the ATP World Tour rankings by reaching the finals. Djokovic comments on his perseverance and eventual victory in Dubai after playing a tough match against Youzhny: “In spite of the rain, thunder and one-day extension, it feels good to finally pull through and win the game."

Twenty-one year old Ernests Gulbis, playing with YouTek™ Prestige MP, became the first Latvian professional tennis player to win an ATP World Title tour. Without dropping a single set on his impressive ride to the final in Delray Beach, Gulbis defeated second-seeded Ivo Karlovic, improving his ranking from No. 72 to No. 45. "Everything that I do now is the first time for my country," Gulbis told reporters. "I hope it's positive. They see that a guy from Latvia also can make it and win."