Dubai Open: Pegula fights back from 6-1, 3-1 down to reach final

At the dubai open, Jessica Pegula overturned a set and a break deficit to defeat Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 2 hours and 2 minutes, advancing to the tournament final. The comeback preserved Pegula's perfect head-to-head record against Anisimova and extended her run deep into top-level events.

Dubai Open semifinal turnaround

Pegula fell heavily in the opening set and trailed in the second, but gradually reversed momentum through a mix of defensive lobs, disruptive slices and sustained court coverage. After leveling the second set, she surged in the third, winning seven of eight games from 4-3 down to open a decisive lead and close out the match.

The match length was 2 hours and 2 minutes. Pegula improved her head-to-head record against Anisimova to 5-0; three of those wins have gone the distance. The opponent had earlier produced a comeback in the previous round, but this time Pegula executed the recovery.

Milestone run at WTA 1000s

The victory put Pegula into another career final. One account framed this as her 21st career final and her 10th at the WTA 1000 level or above. Separate coverage also flagged that she has now reached five WTA 1000 finals since turning 30, a level of consistency that places her alongside a very small group of players who have achieved that many late-career finals.

Those notes underline that Pegula's season includes multiple deep runs at the highest tour level, and that the dubai open result continues a stretch of sustained form on hard courts and at marquee events.

Final opponent remains unclear

Published accounts differ on Pegula's next rival. One account lists Elina Svitolina as the projected opponent; another names Jasmine Paolini. It is unclear at this time which will be her actual opponent in the final.

If Svitolina is the opponent, Pegula enters the match with a 5-3 edge in their career head-to-head and a 5-2 advantage on outdoor hard courts, a record that frames the matchup as familiar territory for Pegula. If Paolini is the finalist, current public details are limited in the available coverage.

Looking ahead, the deciding factors are likely to be Pegula's legs and momentum from the semifinal finish and how effectively an opponent can neutralize her defensive lobs and court coverage. If Pegula's physical and mental energy from the comeback holds into the final, that observable momentum could be decisive; if it does not, the title match projects as open.

Key takeaways

• Pegula rallied to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 2: 02, moving on to the final.
• She improved to 5-0 against Anisimova and into another high-level final late in her career.
• Conflicting accounts list different opponents for the final; the matchup was not confirmed in the available coverage.

Match timing, ticketing and broadcast details for the final have not been consolidated in the material reviewed. Further updates will clarify the confirmed opponent and the scheduled start time for the title match at the dubai open.