Jessica Pegula beat Amanda Anisimova, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Then, Coco Gauff lost to Elina Svitolina, 4-6, 7-6 [15-13], 4-6, in the second semifinal.
It was a day of contrasting emotions for some of the biggest names in American tennis.
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Gauff failed to set up an all-American final against Pegula, but left Dubai with her head held high.
After their semifinals, Gauff and Pegula exchanged messages on social media.
Jessica Pegula calls Coco Gauff an ‘absolute warrior’ after her marathon match in Dubai
Gauff shared the following statement on Instagram.
“Left it all out there yesterday,” she said.
“Didn’t get the result I wanted, but man, that was sm [so much] fun.
“Battles like this make it worth it, a lot to learn from.
“Thank you, Dubai!”
Pegula replied in the comments.
“Absolute warrior!” she said.
“Insane level.”
Gauff thanked Pegula for her message and wished her well for the final.
“Thanks, Jess [Pegula], haha, had to try to match the level you guys brought in your semi,” she said.
“Good luck today.”
Both women’s semifinals were breathtaking affairs.
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In the first semifinal, Pegula looked out of sorts in the opening set against Anisimova.
But as she so often does, the American fought back in three sets to pick up the win.
Then, Gauff and Svitolina delivered a three-hour classic.
Plagued by double faults, Gauff dropped the first set to her Ukrainian opponent.
What followed in the second set was scarcely believable.
Where will Coco Gauff be ranked at the end of the 2026 season?
Gauff and Svitolina battled it out in an extraordinary 28-point tiebreak.
Surviving several match points, Gauff clinched the second set 7-6 [15-13], to keep her Dubai dream alive.
It wouldn’t last much longer, though, as Svitolina emerged victorious in one of the best matches of the 2026 season.
But what’s next for Gauff and Pegula after a memorable day at the Dubai Tennis Championships?
Jessica Pegula prepares for Dubai final vs Elina Svitolina
Pegula will play Svitolina in the final on Saturday, February 21.
The pair have met eight times previously, as Pegula leads their head-to-head, 5-3.
Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina’s head-to-head record
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 Indian Wells – 4R | Elina Svitolina | Jessica Pegula | 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2025 Qatar Open – 2R | Jessica Pegula | Elina Svitolina | 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2024 Olympics – 2R | Elina Svitolina | Jessica Pegula | 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 |
| 2023 US Open – 3R | Jessica Pegula | Elina Svitolina | 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 |
| 2023 Washington Open – QF | Jessica Pegula | Elina Svitolina | 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2021 Indian Wells – 4R | Jessica Pegula | Elina Svitolina | 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2021 Australian Open – 4R | Jessica Pegula | Elina Svitolina | 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 |
| 2021 Abu Dhabi Open – 1R | Elina Svitolina | Jessica Pegula | 6-4, 6-3 |
However, while her head-to-head record with Svitolina may inspire confidence, Pegula’s record in WTA 1000 finals isn’t quite as impressive.
The American has lost her last three WTA 1000 finals.
Jessica Pegula’s WTA 1000 final losing streak
- 2024 Cincinnati Open F [LOSS] vs Aryna Sabalenka
- 2025 Miami Open F [LOSS] vs Aryna Sabalenka
- 2025 Wuhan Open F [LOSS] vs Coco Gauff
Svitolina, on the other hand, is 4-0 in WTA 1000 finals.
Elina Svitolina’s WTA 1000 final winning streak
- 2017 Dubai Tennis Championships F [WIN] vs Caroline Wozniacki
- 2017 Italian Open F [WIN] vs Simona Halep
- 2017 Canadian Open F [WIN] vs Caroline Wozniacki
- 2018 Italian Open F [WIN] vs Simona Halep
Only time will tell who will win the title, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
Coco Gauff has work to do before Indian Wells
Gauff isn’t scheduled to play another tournament before Indian Wells, which begins in March.
Between now and then, Gauff has some big decisions to make.
During her semifinal match in Dubai, Gauff appeared to criticise her coach, Gavin MacMillan, who was hired to fix her serve before last year’s US Open.
“I’ve been doing everything you’ve wanted for the last six months, and it’s not getting any better,” she said.
Her serve is anything but fixed, and appeared to trouble her as much as ever in Dubai.
Coco Gauff’s double faults in Dubai
- 2R vs Anna Kalinskaya – 12 double faults
- 3R vs Elise Mertens – 16 double faults
- QF vs Alex Eala – 8 double faults
- SF vs Elina Svitolina – 12 double faults
Perhaps it’s time for Gauff and MacMillan to part ways and give someone else a crack at sorting out her serve.
It remains to be seen if she will take action, but it’s something to keep an eye on over the coming days and weeks.
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