amanda anisimova dethrones defending champion Mirra Andreeva, to face Pegula in Dubai semis

Amanda Anisimova climbed out of a deep hole to end Mirra Andreeva's title defense at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and set up an all-American semifinal with Jessica Pegula. The quarterfinal was a marathon thriller that swung on fine margins, marking several milestones for the 22-year-old Anisimova.

Quarterfinal drama: comeback, tiebreak and emotion

Anisimova overturned a first-set loss and a 2-0 deficit in the second to beat Andreeva 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 in a match that lasted 2 hours and 38 minutes. The match featured a late charge from the 18-year-old Andreeva — who rallied to 5-3 in the third set — but Anisimova steadied to convert her fourth match point in the deciding tiebreak. She had trailed by a set and 2-0 earlier, then mounted a comeback of her own, showing improved accuracy after a mistake-prone start.

Both players produced standout moments. Andreeva opened aggressively, serving four aces in the first set while Anisimova struggled with 20 unforced errors. Yet Anisimova regrouped to win five straight games to lead 5-2 in the second, and the final was decided by razor-thin margins. Emotion poured out at the net when the final backhand drifted long; Anisimova admitted she was moved by how hard both competitors had fought and praised Andreeva's potential despite ending the teenager's title defense. This victory also marked Anisimova's first Top 10 win of 2026 and her first semifinal appearance since the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh.

Semifinal setup: all-American clash with Pegula and the head-to-head edge

Standing between Anisimova and a Dubai final is Jessica Pegula, who reached the semis after edging last year's finalist Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the other quarterfinal. Pegula's win extended a run of consistency: it was her seventh consecutive semifinal appearance on the tour, a streak stretching back to last year's US Open.

The upcoming semifinal brings a clear storyline: Pegula holds a perfect 4-0 record against Anisimova, including a straight-sets victory in Melbourne last month, giving her a psychological and tactical advantage heading into the rematch. Neither player has yet reached the Dubai final, so both will be bidding to break new ground at this event. For Anisimova, the matchup is a chance to both build on momentum from a dramatic quarterfinal and to notch a breakthrough win against a rival who has dominated their recent encounters.

Implications and what to watch

For Anisimova, the win is significant on multiple fronts: a gritty comeback, a milestone Top 10 scalp, and a return to the semifinal stage after more than a year. Her capacity to tighten up from a high-error start and hold her nerve in a deciding tiebreak will be central if she is to reverse the head-to-head deficit against Pegula.

For Pegula, the challenge is to maintain the form that has delivered consistent deep runs on tour and to rely on the tactical familiarity that has brought her a 4-0 record versus Anisimova so far. Expect a tactical battle that will hinge on serve placement, baseline depth and who can seize the few key points that typically decide tight affairs between top players.

The all-American semifinal shapes up as the marquee match of the day in Dubai, offering a rematch narrative and potential momentum swings that could define the title race. Both players arrive with something to prove: Anisimova to continue her late-match resilience and Pegula to preserve her unbeaten run in this particular rivalry.