Pegula gets out of jail to reach first Dubai final

Jessica Pegula will line up on Saturday for her first title since last June when she races Elina Svitolina in the final of the WTA Dubai 1000 event.

The world No. 5 claimed the last of her three 2025 trophies eight months ago in Bad Homburg on grass in Germany prior to Wimbledon.

Pegula defeated US compatriot Amanda Anisimova  as she staged a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 fightback to advance in just over two hours at the Aviation club.

But the American could have the fitness edge in the title match after Svitolina took more than three hours to out-duel Coco Gauff, winning 6-4, 6-7 (13), 6-4..

The pair spent 90 minutes battling for supremacy in a second set which lasted for nearly 90 minutes and became the longest tiebreaker so far this WTA season.

Svitolina finally prevailed for victory as she broke in the final game of the third set, winning on her sixth match point after missing out on three in the marathon tiebreaker.

The Ukrainian who holds two Dubai titles, backed up her Australian Open quarter-final defeat of Gauff barely three weeks ago.

Svitolina will be competing in her fifth final at 1000 level and her first since winning Rome nearly eight years ago.

She also started the season with the Auckland trophy, 24th of her career.    

Pegula came from the depths of a 6-1, 3-1 deficit to reverse course against Anisimova, whom she has now beaten in all five of their matches – including an Australian Open quarter-finals a month ago.

“At the start of the third it was 1-all and I looked to my coach and said, ‘I’m just happy to still be here right now,'” the winner said. 

The 31-year-old who celebrates a birthday next Tuesday. will player her 21st career final, with titles at three-time 1000-level tournaments.

“It would be an amazing birthday present (if I won the title). I’m not going to mention how old I’m turning,” she said.

“I came here with the intention thinking I could play well in these conditions and I’m giving myself a shot at winning the title tomorrow.”

Pegula leads Svitolina 5-3 in their career series.