Even though billions of people have been spending time with their family this week, there are still devoted tennis players who are travelling from city to city on the ITF Pro Circuit. Because of the many holidays being celebrated this week, there were only five tournaments on the calendar this week – one for the men and four for the women.

Heyman, Gorgodze, Laine, Han and Sabalenka Win Titles

The lone male victor this week was Belgium's Christopher Heyman. Heyman, a 22-year-old currently ranked number 459 in the world, defeated Italy's Adelchi Virgili 6-4, 6-4 to win the $10,000 Turkey F52 Futures event held in Antalya – his third title of the season. Never broken once, Heyman saved two break points late in the second set, including one in the final game, before sealing the victory at the first time of asking.

On the women's side of the spectrum, Georgia's Ekaterine Gorgodze was also victorious in Antalya this week, where she defeated Turkish native Ayla Aksu 6-4, 6-2 to win the $10,000 event. Gorgodze, the third seeded left-hander, didn't concede a single set all week, and posed impressive serving statistics in the final – hitting four aces to no double faults and never getting broken, despite facing three break points.

Elsewhere, in a battle of the qualifiers, former world number 50 Emma Laine continued her comeback to the top 100 of women's professional tennis by defeating Japan's Chihiro Muramatsu 6-1, 6-3, consequently capturing the $10,000 title in Hong Kong. The Finnish left hander, currently ranked number 838 in the world, broke six times and hit an 69% of her first serves serves in, which ultimately got her over the line against an in-form opposition. Having struggled with results for the last decade, this title is a big relief for Laine, who might be finding her feet again at the age of 29.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Na-Lae Han got the better of third seed Risa Ozaki in the Thai capital of Bangkok, defeating her Japanese counterpart 6-2, 6-4 to win the $25,000 championship. In a final with an abundance of breaks, Han was able to hold her nerve and serve when it really mattered, ultimately winning her her second ITF singles title of the season and fourth overall.

Finally, 17-year-old Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka was victorious at the $25,000 event held in Pune, India, where she defeated Russia's Viktoria Kamenskaya 6-3, 6-4 in Saturday's final. Sabalenka, who is still under the age restriction set by the WTA, from winning her third and final title of the season in Pune, which also happened to be just her second professional ITF tournament in India.

A Look at the Events Held the Week of January 4th

The ITF Pro Circuit will be on hiatus next week, as they gear up for the 2016 season. However, they will be back in action the week of January 4th in Los Angeles, Antalya and Hong Kong – consequently meaning that there will only be four tournaments (two for each sex) being played during this week.

Until then, see you next time on the ITF roundup and happy new year from all of us here at VAVEL USA!