Zizou Bergs beat Taylor Fritz 11-9 to win the inaugural Tie Break Tens tournament in Dubai. Bergs beat Dustin Brown and Gael Monfils along the way to the final.

The sudden-death tournament features no games, no set, and only tiebreaks. Because of that, every point counts. The first player to ten points, with a difference of 2 points, wins the match.

It’s actually unbelievable. I didn’t know much about Tie Break Tens – we’re used to playing long matches, which can be a little tense sometimes at the end but this is tense all the time. It’s fantastic for the crowds and a great part of the process of becoming a great tennis player as well.

– Zizou Bergs

Bergs earned $500,000 for his victory. His career earnings before the tournament were $153,000. In addition to the men’s event, a juniors tournament was also held at the venue.

Every tennis tournament tries to do something unique. At the tournaments in Vienna, Stockholm, and a few others, ball boys and ball girls use a racquet with a net (looks like a fishing net) to pick up the ball. 

Vienna has been using the racquet nets for more than 10 years. Even today, it’s not uncommon for TV viewers to be surprised at how these ball kids pick up the balls.

While it’s easier to pick up the balls by hand initially, once the ball kids get familiar with the fishing net, it’s probably more efficient.

Ball kids at tournaments are usually junior tennis players, who can easily handle the ball with a regular racket. But picking up the ball with a fishing net takes practice. I am certain that these tennis tournaments train the kids to use the fishing net effectively.