Svitolina Battles Past Gauff To Reach Dubai Final; Alcaraz Continues Winning Streak

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina pulled off a significant upset, defeating world number four Coco Gauff to secure her place in the Dubai Tennis Championships final, where she will face Jessica Pegula.

America’s Pegula was the first to reach the final, recovering from a disastrous opening set and an early break in the second to beat compatriot Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Gauff, 21, had the chance to set up an all-American final on Saturday, but Svitolina triumphed 6-4, 6-7 (13-15), 6-4 in an epic three-hour, three-minute encounter. The 31-year-old Svitolina had four match points in the second-set tie-break but couldn’t convert them, yet still managed to win the deciding set.

This marks her return to the Dubai final for the first time since claiming back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. “I was playing like there is no tomorrow, just trying to put all the effort in,” she said.

Meanwhile, in the men’s Qatar Open, world number one Carlos Alcaraz maintained his perfect start to 2026 with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory over Russia’s Andrey Rublev, advancing to the final. The 22-year-old Spaniard has already won the Australian Open this year, becoming the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, and this was his 11th win from 11 matches in 2026.

“I know what I am able to do every time I step on the court, what I am capable of doing,” Alcaraz stated. He will face France’s Arthur Fils in the final, who defeated Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic – the player who knocked out world number two Jannik Sinner on Thursday – 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

In other news, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard entry into Indian Wells, the tournament announced on Friday. The 45-year-old American will compete in both the singles and doubles. “It’s great to be heading back to Indian Wells and returning home to California,” Williams said in a statement.