Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina upset world number four Coco Gauff to set up a final against Jessica Pegula at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
American Pegula was the first to win her semi-final, fighting back from a disastrous opening set and early break of serve in the second set to defeat compatriot Amanda Anisimova 1-6 6-4 6-3.
Gauff, 21, had a chance to make it an all-American final on Saturday, but Svitolina recorded a 6-4 6-7 (13-15) 6-4 in an epic encounter that lasted three hours and three minutes.
The 31-year-old Svitolina had four match points in the second-set tie-break and could not take them, but still managed to win the decider.
The 22-year-old Spaniard has already won the Australian Open this year to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam – and this was his 11th success out of 11 in 2026.
He will play either Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic – who beat world number two Jannik Sinner on Thursday – or France’s Arthur Fils in the final.
Meanwhile, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard entry into Indian Wells, the tournament announced on Friday.
The 45-year-old American will compete in both the singles and doubles.
Related topics
- Tennis
- 16 August 2025
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