Coco Gauff mention follows Pegula denying Anisimova to reach Dubai final
Jessica Pegula recovered from being 6-1, 3-1 down to defeat Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 2 hours and 2 minutes, advancing to the Dubai final — a result that was paired in wider coverage with headline attention on coco gauff and Elina Svitolina. Pegula improved to 5-0 against Anisimova and will face Elina Svitolina for the title.
Pegula’s comeback and match specifics
Pegula trailed after dropping the opening set 1-6 and falling 3-1 behind early in the second, but she rallied to win the next two sets and close the semifinal in just over two hours. The victory extended her perfect head-to-head record against Anisimova to 5-0 and moved Pegula into her 21st career final on the WTA Tour. Match length was 2 hours and 2 minutes.
Coco Gauff, Svitolina angle and final pairing
Other headlines have drawn attention to a Coco Gauff vs. Elina Svitolina storyline; within the Dubai event the immediate factual takeaway is that Pegula will meet Elina Svitolina in the final. Pegula leads her head-to-head with Svitolina 5-3 overall, and holds a 5-2 edge on outdoor hard courts. Pegula is bidding to lift the Dubai trophy for the first time.
How Pegula turned the match
The match swung without a single dramatic turning point; Pegula chipped away through tactical adjustments. She began drawing overhead errors with high defensive lobs and disrupted timing with defensive slices, gradually taking momentum. From 4-3 down in the third, Pegula won seven of the next eight games to build a decisive lead. She described relying on movement and stamina, saying she was "running a lot" and focused on staying in the points as her opponent was hitting a "really big ball. "
What to watch in the final
Key observable indicators to follow into the final include Pegula’s recent form in long matches, her head-to-head edge over Svitolina, and the tactical tools she used to reverse momentum in the semifinal. Anisimova herself had shown resilience earlier in the tournament, recovering in her previous match from a sizeable deficit to win, which underlines the physical and mental demands of the draw.
- Key takeaways: Pegula advanced after a comeback; she will face Svitolina; wider coverage has highlighted coco gauff in relation to Svitolina.
Looking ahead, the final will offer a direct test of whether Pegula’s tactical adjustments and movement can be sustained against an opponent she has beaten more often than not. If she maintains the level that produced seven of eight games won late in the semifinal, she will arrive in the title match with clear momentum. If Svitolina can disrupt that rhythm, the head-to-head balance suggests a competitive match.
