Behrouzian is too hot to handle in final

UAE's No 1 doesn't like playing in June and calls for earlier finish next year as he leads Al Wasl to their seventh consecutive title.

Omar Behrouzian returns a volley to Neil Bulliant during yesterday's final in Dubai.

DUBAI // Having helped seal a seventh successive National Tennis League title for Al Wasl, Omar Behrouzian pleaded with the organisers to arrange next year's finale at a less energy-sapping time of the year. Wearing sweatbands to soak up the perspiration from his brow during a humid evening, the No 1 player in the country defeated Neil Bulliant, of the Dubai Police Club, 6-1, 6-3 to give Al Wasl a quick 1-0 lead in the final of the revamped, Falak Holding-supported championship yesterday. Al Wasl finished top of the 12-team league but still needed Rabah Abdulfatah to defeat Farouq Amfal to clinch the best of three match final.

Behrouzian was courtside to cheer Abdulfatah to the required victory, though Abdulfatah was pushed all the way in a tense 3-6, 6-2, 11-9 third-set tie-break win that avoided the need for a doubles tie-breaker. Behrouzian was happy to play his part in the title triumph but expressed his disappointed to be playing competitive tennis in the heat and humidity of June. "In my opinion, it was too late for the season to be going on," he said. "Usually, the season ends by May. It is a bit too humid, too hot. I hope they rectify that for next season and maybe bring the season forward.

"They started in April. I don't really see the point of having nothing for the whole season and then having a tournament. I have been playing since the Davis Cup [in April] and believe it or not, I have not had one week off. Organisers altered the league format this season, introducing the play-off between the top two sides on finals day to retain interest in the competition, which Al Wasl have traditionally had sewn up long before the end of the league matches.

"The new system of the league is good," admitted Behrouzian. "It is much better now than it was before. The system before never encouraged me to play. I never felt that I would get anything out of it - one set and short deuce. Basically it is a practice match. Now they have changed the system and at least it is a proper system now." Francois Danican, the club's tennis coach, credited the victory to the support of the management and the commitment of the players.

"It is always good to win," he said. " I am happy for the guys because they worked hard - all of them, even those who didn't play today. "We work hard together, the players are committed and we have a very good management, who support us. You can see that both of them are with us for the final. We are here for the players, so no secrets." Behrouzian will now enjoy a much-needed break until he leaves with the national team for a training camp in Madrid on July 1. He will spend his break watching the World Cup on TV. "I love football and for the final I will have to find some place in Spain to watch," he said. "I have already told the coach [the Spaniard Jorge Martin], 'You won't see me after 4pm.'"

Behrouzian was initially planning to support England at the finals, but with Theo Walcott, the winger from his favourite team Arsenal, not figuring in Fabio Capello's England squad, the bespectacled UAE No 1 has been left without a team to cheer. "I was going to support England, but Mr Capello didn't choose my favourite player and now I have to change my team," he rued. "So now, I will be supporting any team that has Arsenal players. The UAE are not there, so it is Arsenal for me."

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