Points won by each set: [ 33-27, 28-19 ]
Points won directly behind the serve:
50 % Ivanisevic – 23 of 46
16 % Costa – 10 of 61
[9] Ivanisevic’s amazing period: after quite shocking loss to Furlan at Australian Open (3R), the Croat reached five finals in five consecutive weeks (!), and what’s really extraordinary, he mixed up European indoor events with an outdoor Arabian event at the Persian Gulf. Dubai meant the second stage of that astonishing tour. He lost his serve only once during the week, in the opening match vs Burillo, serving 54 aces in total (10.8 per match). Costa’s [23] advancement to the final was unexpected because in 1995 he was labelled as a typical clay-court specialist (he dedicated 3/4 of the season to the red surface). He decided with his coach that the 1996 year should be more versatile and for the first reward he didn’t have to wait long. In the first round of Dubai he stunned Rosset (1-6, 6-3, 6-4), then took advantage of a very favourable draw.
Ivanisevic’s route to his 13th title:
1 Jordi Burillo 6-2, 6-4
2 Karel Novacek 6-3, 7-5
Q Wayne Ferreira 6-2, 6-1
S David Prinosil 6-2, 7-6(6)
W Albert Costa 6-4, 6-3