amanda anisimova dethrones defending champ Andreeva, to meet Pegula in Dubai semis
Amanda Anisimova survived a dramatic quarterfinal to end Mirra Andreeva's title defense at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, prevailing 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 in a contest that lasted 2 hours and 38 minutes. The No. 2 seed will face No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula in an all-American semifinal.
Quarterfinal thriller: resilience and key moments
The match swung wildly. Andreeva, the 18-year-old who entered the tournament as the defending champion, opened strongly and took the first set 6-2. Anisimova dug in for a tight second set, nudging through 7-5 to extend the contest. The decider went the distance, with Anisimova surviving a late charge from Andreeva — who led 5-3 in the third — before a tiebreak decided the match.
Anisimova converted her fourth match point to seal the comeback in the tiebreak, and the finish sparked an emotional reaction from both players. "I was almost in tears there at the end, " Anisimova said in her on-court interview. "It was such a tough battle, and I thought we played incredible tennis. Seeing Mirra down like that, it's understandable. We both fought so hard today, and it made me emotional seeing her like that. She was playing so well, she's the defending champion and I feel like we both won on the court today. "
After Andreeva's final backhand sailed long, the 18-year-old bent double with emotion, a vivid image of the stakes and the intensity on show. The result marks Anisimova's first Top 10 victory of 2026 and her first semifinal appearance since the 2025 year-end finals in Riyadh. It is also the second narrow win over Andreeva in as many meetings; Anisimova ended Andreeva's 13-match streak last year in Miami in another three-set classic.
All-American semis: Pegula waits
Awaiting Anisimova is Jessica Pegula, who advanced after a hard-fought 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over last year's runner-up Clara Tauson. Pegula's run to the semis continues a remarkable streak — it is her seventh consecutive semifinal appearance on tour, a run stretching back to last year's US Open.
The matchup sets up a rematch of a recent Grand Slam encounter; Pegula leads their head-to-head 4-0 and defeated Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 in Melbourne last month. Both players will be chasing a first trip to the Dubai final in their careers, with Pegula bringing the psychological edge in prior meetings while Anisimova arrives with momentum and renewed belief following a gritty comeback.
What this means and what to watch
Anisimova's victory carries multiple implications. It snapped Andreeva's title defense, halted a hot streak for the young Russian, and provided Anisimova with a signature scalp early in the season. For Anisimova, the challenge will be to channel the emotional aftermath into focused preparation for Pegula — a veteran opponent whose consistency and baseline control have proven difficult for many.
Key factors to watch in the semifinal: Pegula's ability to neutralize Anisimova's power and tempo changes, Anisimova's service consistency under pressure, and how both players handle pivotal points. Momentum and mental composure will likely decide this semifinal; Anisimova showed she can grind through tough moments, while Pegula's tour-high run of deep finishes suggests she knows how to manage high-stakes matches.
With a spot in the final on the line, the all-American clash promises another high-level battle on Dubai's hard courts. Both players have strong incentives — immediate ranking points, confidence for the season ahead, and the chance to lift a prestigious Middle East trophy for the first time in their careers.
