Jessica Pegula and Two American Teammates Headline Dubai Semifinals as Svitolina Seeks to Break the Run
Three Americans — Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova and jessica pegula — compose an unusually strong national presence in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semifinals, while Elina Svitolina arrives aiming to interrupt the American surge. The lineup is notable because it is the first time in a quarter century that three players from the same country have reached the Dubai semifinals, and the matches include rematches from a recent Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova: Seeds, schedule and stakes
The first semifinal pairs No. 2 seed Amanda Anisimova with No. 4 Jessica Pegula at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre. The match is scheduled for 5 p. m. local time (8 a. m. ET). Both players are among the tour’s top-ranked competitors, part of a trio of Americans who are in the WTA Top 10 and who also happen to be good friends, intensifying the national storyline.
What’s at stake is a place in Saturday’s final of the season’s second WTA 1000 event; the winners of the two semifinals will meet to determine the champion. With three Americans in the last four, the outcome of the Pegula–Anisimova match will decide whether the final will feature multiple compatriots or whether an outsider will break up the American presence.
Coco Gauff vs Elina Svitolina: rematch context and form
The other semifinal pits No. 3 Coco Gauff against No. 7 Elina Svitolina, another Top 10 player. This pairing is a rematch from the recent Grand Slam quarterfinal in Melbourne, played less than one month ago. That prior meeting ended decisively and adds an immediate narrative layer to Friday’s contest.
Gauff reached the Dubai semifinals after a dominant 6-0, 6-2 win over Alexandra Eala. She acknowledged surprise at reaching the final four, noting how a single match can shift momentum. Gauff’s tournament path has included setbacks and resilience: an opening loss in Doha to a lucky loser and a match in Dubai where she saved three match points against Elise Mertens. Service consistency has been a concern; she recorded 36 double faults in the event overall, 16 in the match against Mertens and eight in the win over Eala. Offensively and defensively, Gauff has strong return play and retrieving ability, reflected in a tournament-high 19 break points converted and six breaks of Eala, and her relentless retrieving forced 33 unforced errors from Eala.
Svitolina advanced after a three-set comeback over a lucky loser, prevailing 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. She saved 11 of 14 break points in that match and produced five service breaks. A two-time Dubai champion, she has previous success at this venue and has described positive memories of playing here. Her most recent meeting with Gauff — 24 days earlier in Melbourne — extended the rematch storyline heading into Dubai.
Implications for the draw and what to watch next
The semifinals present a compact set of storylines: the rarity of three Americans in Dubai’s last four, immediate rematches stemming from a recent Grand Slam, and Svitolina’s bid to revisit past Dubai glory. For the American contingent, momentum and familiarity will be tested; for Svitolina, finals experience at this venue and recent resilience are key advantages. The winners will play on Saturday to determine the champion of this WTA 1000 event.
Fans and analysts should monitor serve consistency, break-point conversion and physical freshness as decisive factors across both semifinals. Recent form and the psychological edge of prior meetings will shape each match, but the definitive outcomes will be decided on court when the semifinals begin.
