Elina Svitolina will contest the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships after a grueling three-hour and three-minute semi-final victory over world number four Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-7 (13-15), 6-4. The Ukrainian’s win on Friday sets up a championship clash with American Jessica Pegula.
Pegula advanced to the final after overcoming compatriot Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. She recovered from a difficult start, losing the first set decisively, before regaining control of the match.
Svitolina’s path to the final was particularly dramatic, requiring six match points to finally subdue Gauff. The second set proved a tense affair, extending to a tiebreak where Gauff saved four match points before ultimately prevailing 15-13. Despite the missed opportunities, Svitolina maintained her composure and secured the decisive break in the final set to close out the match.
“I was playing like there is no tomorrow, just trying to put all the effort in,” Svitolina said after the match, reflecting the intensity of the contest.
This marks Svitolina’s return to the Dubai final for the first time since she secured consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018. Earlier in the tournament, Svitolina had defeated Gauff in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open last month, continuing a recent winning streak against the American.
In separate action at the Qatar Open, world number one Carlos Alcaraz continued his undefeated start to 2026, defeating Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 to reach the final.
