Elina Svitolina produced a stirring performance to defeat Coco Gauff in a gripping semifinal at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, setting up a final showdown with Jessica Pegula.
Svitolina prevailed 6-4, 6-7 (13-15), 6-4 in a contest that lasted three hours and three minutes, overcoming a dramatic second-set tiebreak and regaining control in the decider to advance to her first WTA 1000 final since 2018.
Svitolina Holds Nerve in Marathon Semifinal
The Ukrainian began confidently, breaking at key moments to secure the opening set 6-4. Gauff responded with resilience in the second set, where neither player gave much away on serve. The set culminated in a tense tiebreak that stretched to 15-13, with Gauff saving four match points before eventually levelling the contest.
Despite the disappointment of losing the extended tiebreak, Svitolina regrouped impressively in the third set. She earned the decisive break late in the set and closed it out 6-4, sealing one of her most significant wins of the season.
The victory sends Svitolina into her third Dubai final, underlining her strong history at the tournament and marking a return to the business end of a WTA 1000 event after several years.
Pegula Fights Back to Reach Final
In the other semifinal, Pegula recovered from a slow start to defeat Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Anisimova dominated the opening set, breaking early and dictating play to take it 6-1. However, Pegula steadied her game in the second set, improving her first-serve percentage and cutting down on unforced errors to level the match at one set apiece.
The American carried that momentum into the third set, where she secured the crucial break and maintained her advantage to close out the match 6-3. The win continues Pegula’s unbeaten record against Anisimova and sends her into the Dubai final with renewed confidence.
Final Set for High-Quality Contest
The championship match will now feature Svitolina against Pegula, with the winner set to claim 1,000 ranking points and the prestigious Dubai title.
For Svitolina, the final represents an opportunity to reclaim the trophy she previously won in 2017 and 2018. For Pegula, it is another chance to add a major hard-court title to her résumé and reinforce her position among the top contenders on the WTA Tour.
With both players showing resilience and tactical strength in their semifinals, the 2026 Dubai final promises to be a closely contested encounter.
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