Jessica Pegula Draws Amanda Anisimova in Dubai Semifinal as Three Americans and Svitolina Reach Final Four

jessica pegula will meet Amanda Anisimova in one of Friday’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semifinals at 8 a. m. ET, part of a rare final-four lineup that includes three Americans alongside Elina Svitolina. The matchups reopen rematches from the recent Australian Open and determine who advances to Saturday’s championship match in the season’s second WTA 1000 event.

What happened and what’s new

The tournament’s semifinals feature three Americans — Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova and jessica pegula — plus Elina Svitolina. It is the first time in a quarter century that three players from the same country have reached the Dubai semifinals. No. 2 seed Amanda Anisimova is scheduled to face No. 4 Jessica Pegula at 5 p. m. local time (8 a. m. ET). No. 3 Coco Gauff will play No. 7 Elina Svitolina in the other semifinal; the winners meet Saturday to decide the champion of the WTA 1000 event.

These matchups are rematches from the Australian Open quarterfinals played fewer than 30 days earlier. Recent match results at this tournament include Gauff’s 6-0, 6-2 win over Alexandra Eala and Svitolina’s three-set comeback, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, over lucky loser Antonia Ruzic. Svitolina has previously won the Dubai title twice and defeated Gauff in their most recent encounter 6-1, 6-2 roughly three and a half weeks ago.

Performance details through the event add texture to the semifinals. Gauff has shown strong return and defensive play, converting a tournament-high 19 break points and breaking Eala six times, though her serve has been inconsistent; she has accumulated the highest double-fault total in the draw. Svitolina demonstrated resilience in her comeback win, saving a large majority of break points against her and securing multiple service breaks in that match.

Jessica Pegula and the American trio: Behind the headline

The presence of three Americans in the semifinals is notable both for its rarity and for the relationships among the players: they are described as good friends and all sit inside the tour’s Top 10. That alignment raises stakes for national representation at a major early-season WTA 1000 event and frames the semifinal between Anisimova and Jessica Pegula as a domestic duel with broader tournament implications.

Key dynamics in play include the familiarity created by recent Grand Slam meetings, which compresses preparation time and amplifies tactical adjustments. Svitolina’s history at this venue and her recent win over Gauff add an extra variable: she represents an experienced obstacle to an all-American final and carries proven success on these courts. For the three Americans, the semifinal round is both an opportunity to capitalize on form and a test of how recent head-to-head results influence strategy.

What we still don’t know and what happens next

• Missing pieces / open questions:
  • How jessica pegula will adjust tactically against Amanda Anisimova in a match that mirrors their recent Grand Slam meeting.
  • Whether Coco Gauff’s serve inconsistency will carry over and affect her match against Svitolina.
  • How Svitolina’s experience at this venue and her recent win over Gauff will shape the rematch dynamics.
  • Which semifinal winner will have the physical and tactical edge for Saturday’s final.
• Possible scenarios and triggers:
  • Pegula advances: If she controls rallies and limits unforced errors, she can convert a seeded advantage into a place in the final; trigger — early service holds and breaking Anisimova’s serve.
  • Anisimova upsets Pegula: If Anisimova imposes aggressive play and exploits short points, she can overturn the seeding; trigger — strong return games from Anisimova in key moments.
  • Svitolina repeats against Gauff and reaches the final: If she leverages her past Dubai success and recent Melbourne win, she could block an all-American final; trigger — successful pressure on Gauff’s serve and a high conversion of break points.
  • Gauff overcomes serve issues and reaches the final: If she reduces double faults and maintains her return excellence, she can advance; trigger — tighter serving and continued break-point conversion.
  • Any final is tightly contested: Given recent rematches and familiarity, tactical nuance and mid-match adjustments could decide the champion on Saturday.

Why it matters: The semifinals not only determine the champion of the season’s second WTA 1000 event but also highlight early-season form, head-to-head narratives carried from a recent Grand Slam, and the uncommon national concentration of semifinalists. Near-term implications include momentum for the winner heading into the rest of the season and a visibility boost for the players involved as they contest a high-stakes title weekend.