Asciak's power play prevails at Emirates Open

Matthew Asciak added the 2010 Emirates Open to his repertoire of successes after beating the returning Marcus Delicata in the final played recently at the Marsa Sports Club.

Delicata was making a comeback after two years out of the game.

He reached the final after eliminating second seed Denzil Agius and Bradley Callus, the fourth seed. On both occasions, the match dragged into the third set to determine a winner.

On the other side of the draw, Asciak, the Malta champion, had an easier passage when he had the better of Matthew Cassar Torregiani and third seed Mark Gatt in straight sets.

The final was a match of different contrasts.

Delicata, using his drop shots and sliced strokes, tried to unsettle Asciak who opted for the more powerful play. Delicata's tactics seem to be working in the first few games but he then succumbed to the pressure of Asciak's strokes. In the end, Asciak won 6-3 6-1.

The doubles event was won by Callus and Asciak.

They had the better of Delicata brothers, Darryl and Marcus, 6-3 6-1. The Delicata duo eliminated Gatt and Agius in the semi-final 7-6 6-1.

The presentation of prizes was presided by Godwin Borg, Tennis Section chairman, together with Paul Fleri Soler, the Emirates Area Manager for Malta and Cyprus, Joanna Balzan Dowling, Sales Executive, and Marina Schuster, Senior Sales Executive.

Representing the Malta Tennis Federation was Mark Camilleri, the vice president.