Epic Semi-Final Showdown

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina has advanced to the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after a hard-fought, three-hour and three-minute victory over America’s Coco Gauff. Svitolina prevailed with a score of 6-4, 6-7 (13-15), 6-4.

The match was a testament to Svitolina’s resilience, as she navigated a challenging second set tie-break and ultimately secured the win in the deciding set.

Second Set Thriller

The second set proved to be a pivotal moment in the match, extending into a dramatic tie-break. Despite holding four match points in the tie-break, Svitolina was unable to close it out initially, eventually losing the set 13-15. However, she demonstrated remarkable composure to regroup and seize the match in the third.

“I was playing like there is no tomorrow, just trying to set all the effort in,”

Elina Svitolina

Final Opponent Set: Pegula Awaits

Svitolina will now face Jessica Pegula of the United States in the final. Pegula secured her spot in the championship match by defeating compatriot Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Svitolina’s Journey to the Final

This marks Svitolina’s third appearance in the Dubai final and her first since claiming back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. Her head-to-head record against Gauff now stands at 3-2.

This is Svitolina’s first WTA 1000 final since the 2018 Rome tournament, representing a gap of seven years and 277 days between finals at this level.

Alcaraz and Fils to Clash in Qatar Open Final

In other tournament news, world number one Carlos Alcaraz continued his undefeated start to 2026 with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory over Andrey Rublev in the Qatar Open semi-final. He will face Arthur Fils in the final.

Venus Williams Receives Wildcard

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard entry into the upcoming Indian Wells tournament, where she will compete in both singles and doubles.

FAQ

• Who did Elina Svitolina defeat to reach the Dubai final? She defeated Coco Gauff.
• Who will Svitolina face in the final? She will face Jessica Pegula.
• How long did the semi-final match between Svitolina and Gauff last? The match lasted three hours and three minutes.