Dubai Semifinals Set Up Rare Three-American Showing with Jessica Pegula Among Final Four

Three U. S. players — Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova and jessica pegula — reached the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, creating a rare domestic sweep in the last four as Elina Svitolina aims to interrupt the run. The matchups on Friday recreate recent Grand Slam encounters and set a decisive weekend at the season’s second WTA 1000 event.

What happened and what’s new: Jessica Pegula in Anisimova rematch

The tournament’s semifinals feature two rematches from the Australian Open less than one month earlier. No. 2 seed Amanda Anisimova is scheduled to meet No. 4 Jessica Pegula at 5 p. m. local time, 8 a. m. ET, followed by No. 3 Coco Gauff against No. 7 Elina Svitolina. The winners will play Saturday to determine the champion of the WTA 1000 event.

This marks the first time in roughly a quarter century that three players from the same country have advanced to the semifinals in Dubai. The three Americans are described as good friends and are all ranked inside the WTA Top 10. The semifinal pairings echo recent Grand Slam history: both matches are rematches from the most recent Australian Open quarterfinals.

Gauff reached the final four with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Alexandra Eala, a result she admitted left her surprised in an on-court interview. Earlier in the event she overcame a challenging stretch that included an opening loss in Doha and a match in Dubai’s round of 16 where she saved three match points. Across the tournament, her serve has been inconsistent; she had 16 double faults against Elise Mertens and entered the Dubai draw with the event-high total of 36 double faults, then reduced that to eight in the Eala match. Gauff has also recorded a tournament-leading 19 break points converted and broke Eala six times.

Svitolina progressed after a three-set win over a lucky loser, coming back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. In that match she saved 11 of 14 break points and produced five service breaks. Svitolina is a two-time Dubai champion, having won the title in 2017 and 2018, and she returns to the semifinals aiming to halt the American representation in the last four.

Behind the headline

Context and incentives: The convergence of three Top 10 Americans in the semifinals underscores both depth and current form among that national cohort. The rematch angle adds strategic weight: players and teams can draw directly on a recent Grand Slam meeting as they prepare adjustments. For Svitolina, a two-time champion here, the tournament presents an opportunity to leverage historical comfort at this venue against a country-dominated draw.

Stakeholders and leverage: The three American semifinalists stand to gain ranking points, event prestige and momentum for the season’s front third. Svitolina gains leverage from prior success in Dubai and recent match resilience. Tournament organizers gain a headline narrative; opponents face the challenge of preparing for familiar adversaries with recent match data.

What we still don’t know

• Which of the four semifinalists will win their respective matchups and reach the final.
• How each player’s recent form will translate into these specific rematches, particularly service consistency for players with noted serving issues.
• Whether the American trio will produce an all-American final or if Svitolina will interrupt that possibility.
• Any changes to match times or court assignments beyond the published schedule.

What happens next

• Anisimova defeats Jessica Pegula — triggers an all-American final if Gauff also wins, cementing the rare national trio achievement into a domestic title match.
• Jessica Pegula beats Anisimova — sets up a potential American vs. American final and extends Pegula’s run through recent major rematches.
• Elina Svitolina defeats Coco Gauff — breaks up the American sweep and leverages her prior Dubai titles and recent comeback form to reach the final.
• Coco Gauff advances despite serve concerns — would underscore her defensive strengths and return game as decisive in close, tactical rematches.
• Any upset by a lower-seeded opponent — would recalibrate expectations for the remainder of the WTA 1000 event and affect late-season seeding dynamics among the Top 10.

Why it matters

Near-term, the outcomes will influence momentum and confidence for players already discussed in Grand Slam contexts. For the three Americans, a deep tournament run reinforces national depth and can shift narratives about pecking order inside the Top 10. For Svitolina, continued success here would reaffirm her affinity for this event and offer a counterpoint to the American surge.

Practically, fans and coaching teams will watch serving patterns and tactical adaptations closely in the rematches. The semifinals present immediate ranking and prestige returns and will shape storylines as the tour progresses through the WTA 1000 schedule.