Elina Svitolina Defeats Coco Gauff in Three-Hour Dubai Semi-Final to Reach 2026 WTA Final

Elina Svitolina overcame Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (13-15), 6-4 on 20 February 2026 to reach the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a WTA 1000 event. The three-hour, three-minute semi-final saw Svitolina recover from a second-set tie-break loss and secure victory on her sixth match point. She will face Jessica Pegula in Saturday’s final.

Svitolina Survives Marathon Second-Set Tie-Break

According to BBC Sport, Svitolina won the opening set 6-4 but held four match points during the second-set tie-break. Gauff, 21, saved all four and won the tie-break 15-13 to force a decider.

Just Women’s Sports noted the tie-break became one of the longest in the tournament’s history, highlighting Gauff’s aggressive baseline play and clutch serving under pressure.

Svitolina Claims Victory in Deciding Set

Svitolina, 31, regained control in the third set, breaking Gauff’s serve in the final game to claim the match. “I was playing like there is no tomorrow,” Svitolina said, according to BBC Sport. The win marks her first Dubai final since 2018 and her first WTA 1000 final in nearly eight years.

Coco Gauff Exits After Strong Dubai Run

Gauff exited Dubai after a demanding week. She saved three match points in her third-round victory over Elise Mertens and defeated Alexandra Eala in the quarter-finals. This was Gauff’s second semi-final appearance in Dubai.

Jessica Pegula Advances to Dubai Final

Earlier on Friday, Jessica Pegula defeated Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, as reported by BBC Sport. Pegula recovered after losing the opening set heavily, ensuring an all-top-10 final in Dubai.

Dubai 2026 Final: Svitolina vs Pegula

The Dubai final is scheduled for Saturday and will be broadcast live on The Tennis Channel. Match details and official results are available on the Dubai Championships website and the Women’s Tennis Association.

Svitolina will compete for her first WTA 1000 title since 2018, while Pegula looks to add another major hard-court trophy early in the 2026 season.