Georgian girls sweep winner prizes at Dubai ITF tennis championships

Georgia's young tennis talents Nino Natsvlishvili and Tata Gagoshidze swept winner prizes in both singles and doubles category at the International Tennis Federation Junior Championships in Dubai on the weekend.

The competition saw the two athletes progress through initial rounds and knock-out fixtures to lift trophies for both sections for girls, with Natsvlishvili earning the singles champion title.

The 17-year-old launcher her bid for the title by sailing past Hungary's Anna Lajos (6-1, 6-1) before facing a stiffer resistance from British hopeful Sophya Devas (6-4, 6-3).

The quarterfinal fixture saw the Georgian defeat Eva Bussad of Bulgaria in another smooth victory (6-1, 6-2). Progressing through to the semis, Natsvlishvili had to overcome the tournament's first seed Yasmin Ezzat of Egypt (6-1, 7-6) to set up the final against Leena Benetto of Canada.

Georgia's winning entrants of the ITF tournament photographed with their trophies. Photo via Georgian Tennis Federation.

Proving to be the hardest game in the contest for the teenager, the final saw three sets played between the contestants, with the Georgian closing it off with a final score 5-7, 7-6, 6-4.

Gagoshidze reached the quarterfinal stage in the singles before her defeat to the eventual finalist Benetto (6-2, 2-6, 6-7). But the 16-year-old successfully teamed up with her compatriot for the doubles category, where they eased past two opposing teams in the first round and quarterfinal.

Scoring a 6-1, 6-2 win against Shaikha Aljanahi and Maria Karachaliou of United Arab Emirates and Greece respectively, the Georgian duo then defeated the team of UK's Lara Bakhaya and Elena Grekul of Ukraine (6-3, 6-0).

The final fixture saw Natsvlishvili and Gagoshidze face French counterparts Emma Jouy and Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah. The game was over in two sets and the score of 6-4, 6-3.

The ITF championships in Dubai ran between January 13-18.