Final is 15.00 local time, 11.00 GMT. I shall have everything crossed in the hope that James can bring home the title.

     Hmm! Just realised the OoP says the final will start at 03.00 local time,  surely not, 'twould make it 23.00 GMT, if that's the case.

-- Edited by helki at 16:30, 2008-11-28

Has to be said Wardy has quietly got on with it this year!

He's setting himself up for a very big 2009!!!

Come on Wardy lad! Take the title. Any idea where the result will appear quickest today?

7-6(5) 6-1, to be exact (so a tight 1st set t/b) - looks like Prpic more than got revenge for that thrashing earlier this year.

A real shame there - however, looking forward to James moving to play more regularly in Challengers next year and I guess these points will at least count double for the almost all of 2009

ITV Teletext is currently in 'hunt GB tennis articles' mode and alerted me to the following article from the Khaleej Times:

DUBAI - Sixth seed Filip Pirpic of Sweden overpowered Britains James Ward, seeded second, 7-6 (5), 6-1 to win the National Day ITF Futures tennis tournament at the Al Wasl tennis courts here on Saturday.

Both players lost in the first round of the Aviation Cup tennis tournament held a week earlier. But they raised their game this time to make it to the final. The sixth second seeded Ward, was much favoured to win the title on Saturday, having beaten Pirpic 6-0, 6-3 when they met in Spain in May.

The Swede, however, capitalised well on Wards lapses, especially in the first set when the Briton was leading 5-4. It was a good match and I think I played well. I was leading 3-1 in the first set before he came back to reduce the scores 4-2.

The 26-year-old Pirpic, who won his last tournament in Italy this year, did not give up when Ward was leading 5-4 in the first set. I had two great shots at that point and I was delighted to win the set giving me more confidence.

He, however, admitted he was a bit nervous and did not play well but fought throughout to win the match. Pirpic said he would take two weeks rest on his return home before starting training in January for the next season.

Ward, on the other hand, was not happy with the surface. The court was very slow making it difficult to play as I wanted. He, however, blamed himself for the defeat saying he should have closed the first set while leading 5-4 but played a couple of bad shots.

The 21-year-old Briton said his opponent also made it a bit difficult for him as he played a defensive game. I have also been on the road for nearly six weeks and I am really exhausted. I am going home now to have some rest before getting ready for the forthcoming season, he said.

After taking the opening set 7-6, Pirpic grew more in confidence in the second set for a comfortable 3-0 lead. Ward, however, slightly came into the match rushing to the net to hit some superb shots. He broke Pirpic in the process to reduce the scores 3-1.

But the Swede responded as he too broke the serve of Ward in the fifth game to move ahead 4-1 and held his own in the next game for a 5-1 lead. Pirpic, with his powerful baseline volleys, broke Ward in the seventh game to win the set and the match.