By Erik Gudris | Saturday, February 21, 2015

Top seed Simona Halep entered the Dubai Championships this week riding a camel as part of a promotional photo op for the tournament. She now exits the prestigious WTA event as its new champion.

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But Saturday's final would not prove a mere formality for the Romanian star. While Halep was expected to reach the final stage, the woman waiting for her there was something of a surprise.

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic used her big serve and quick, powerful groundstrokes to subdue a number of players during the upset-riddle week. The first time meeting between her and Halep offered fans a contrast of playing styles. Would Halep's all-court game prove too much? Or was the quickly rising Pliskova destined to claim her first top five win?

Early on in the opening set, Halep struggled as Pliskova soared. Though Pliskova had an easy time in her service games, Halep barely managed to keep things even. But Halep, after holding for 3-all, would find her opportunity. A loose service game from Pliskova would see the Czech drop serve at love thanks to an errant backhand.

Halep would not surrender her advantage as she soon closed out the set 6-4.

Pliskova pounced early in the second set. A ill-timed double fault from Halep while down break point handed Pliskova a 2-0 lead. Halep broke right back for 2-1 and then Pliskova called for a medical time out to deal with a lower back issue.

Pliskova returned to court, but Halep couldn't sustain her lead as she dropped serve for 2-all. Both women would trade breaks throughout the set with Pliskova often striking big winners and untimely errors in the same game.

Halep broke Pliskova again for 5-4 and served for the title in the next game. Yet Pliskova, soon down a match point, played fearless tennis. Pliskova casually struck a huge winner to send things to deuce and soon broke back for 5-all.

After another break of serve, Halep tried to serve out the title again up 6-5. But an agitated Halep tossed in a double fault while holding her second match point en route to dropping serve again.

That sent things into a tiebreak with neither woman holding an early advantage. Yet, it would be more errors from Pliskova down the stretch that would seal her fate. Despite holding a mini-break lead at 4-3, Pliskova struck one shot wide then two more into the net.

Now holding her third match point, Halep would make no mistakes. Striking a final forehand winner into the open court, Halep finally celebrated the 6-4, 7-6(4) victory.

Halep hit 16 winners and and 22 unforced errors compared to Pliskova's 27 winners and 36 unforced errors.

Dubai is now the 10th career WTA title for Halep. The win also will put Halep back to No. 3 in the rankings next week. Pliskova herself is projected to rise to No. 12 in the rankings based on her efforts.

"It's hard to explain how I feel. It's a big title for me. It means a lot and I am enjoying to be here. I really love to be here. I just…I'm happy!" Halep said just after the final.

"I believed in my return so I came on the court with a chance to win the title and did everything I could," Halep added.

Halep enjoyed massive crowd support during the week and shared these words with her many fans.

"I'm waiting for you everywhere I go during the tournaments. I want to thank you and I can say that I love you."