The 1st Marbella Open Tennis Championship was held in 1987 as a Club Championship. Ove the years, it has grown into one of the top most and popular tournament in U.A.E.

Over the years some of the international stars of yesteryears have participated and won this championship. Konstantin Pogaev, 10-time USSR Champion and no. 1 player in the late seventies and early eighties won the Marbella Championship in 1994 and 995.

From 1996 to 1999, 5-time Indian National Champion and former Davis Cupper, Zeeshan Ali won the tournament 4 years in a row. Other former international players who have figured in the finals are Philippines Eddie Gayon and Manny Gayon along with Egypt's Tareq El Sakka.

The last six years have seen the tournament grow tremendously in terms of prizes and player participation under the patronage of H.E. Shaikh Mohd. Bin Saud Al Qassimi, Chairman Finance and Administration Department - Government of Sharjah. His encour- agement has played a major role in the growth of this tournament.

Kedriouk claims Marbella tennis title

Top seed Alexey Kedriouk of Kazakhstan lived up to his billing as he edged out Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 in a thrilling final to claim the Men's Super Singles in the 18th Marbella Open Tennis Championships 2006 which concluded at the Marbella Resort tennis courts.

Kedriouk, the runner-up last year, broke the second seed Chiudinelli in the first set to lead 3-1. Chiudinelli, however fought back to even the scores 3-3 before Kedriouk regain the lead 5-3. But the Swiss fought back to level the scores again 5-5 and again tied at 6-6 to force a tiebreaker.

Kedriouk then hit a spectacular backhand cross-court winner to make it 7-6 and then served an ace to take the tiebreaker 8-6 and the first set. Chiudinelli responded well in the second set as he went in front 4-1 and maintained the same pace to take the set 6-3 to level the scores 1-1.

Kedriouk also stormed back in the third set breaking Chiudinelli twice to lead 4-1. He maintained the same tempo and served out the final game at 40-15 to take the set 6-3 to win the match which lasted over two hours. Kedriouk received Dh14,000 winner's cash prize with Chiudinelli, Dh8,000.

Former Ukranian junior ranked player Tanya Volkova, meanwhile upset top seed Jennifer Smith 6-3, 6-1 to claim the women's singles title. Volkova proved to be too strong fro the 15-year-old Smith with her powerful groundstrokes. She moved Smith around the court, finishing off points with winners on both flanks. Smith, who was down 1-4 in the opening set, rallied to reduce the tally 5-3 only to lose the set 6-3. The lanky Volkova raised her game in the second set to easily take it 6-1 and the match.

Avinash Baskar beat Abdul Rahman Janahi 9-4 to claim the boy's 12 and under singles title. Shaikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, chairman of finance and administration department, Government of Sharjah, later distributed prizes to the winners. The tournament was sponsored by Bank of Sharjah, Kia Motors, National Paints, Sun and Sand Sports L.L.C., Gulf Today, Al Khaleej and co-sponsored by Sharjah TV, Tiffany.