DUBAI: Jessica Pegula captured her first Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships crown on Saturday, beating two-time champion Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 in the women’s singles final to secure an early birthday milestone at a WTA 1000 event. Pegula, ranked No. 5, closed out the match in 73 minutes under the lights at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, lifting the tournament’s silver coffee pot trophy. She turns 32 on Tuesday and became the first American winner in Dubai since Venus Williams in 2014.
Pegula set the tone immediately, controlling rallies from the baseline and stepping forward when openings appeared. She broke serve early and built a 3-0 advantage, then extended her lead with another break as Svitolina struggled to reset after a demanding week. Svitolina briefly pulled a break back, but Pegula responded right away to restore her cushion and moved through the first set in 34 minutes. In the second set, Pegula earned a decisive break and finished the final with an ace.
The title was the 10th WTA Tour singles trophy of Pegula’s career and her fourth at WTA 1000 level. She became only the third American to win the Dubai women’s title, joining Lindsay Davenport and three-time champion Williams. The victory also made Pegula the second-oldest women’s singles champion in Dubai, behind Williams, and ended a three-match losing streak for Pegula in WTA 1000 finals. Pegula said the trophy was a “great birthday present” as she prepared to fly home.
Route to the trophy
Pegula’s week included four Top 20 wins, with victories over teenager Iva Jovic in the round of 16, Clara Tauson in the quarterfinals, Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals and Svitolina in the final. The semifinal was a turning point, with Pegula rallying past Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 after falling behind by a set and a break. In the trophy presentation, Pegula thanked fans for the atmosphere across the closing rounds and said playing in front of full stands was a highlight for players throughout the week.
For Svitolina, the final came less than 24 hours after a marathon semifinal against Coco Gauff that lasted three hours. Seeded seventh and ranked No. 9, Svitolina had returned to the Dubai final as a former champion, having lifted the title in 2017 and 2018. Saturday’s result handed her the first defeat of her career in a WTA 1000 final, after winning her previous four such finals. Svitolina said she would take positives from the tournament despite falling short in the championship match.
American winner returns to Dubai top step
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is one of the WTA Tour’s marquee hard-court stops, with the women’s draw classified at WTA 1000 level and traditionally awarding one of the circuit’s most recognizable trophies. Pegula’s run featured sustained pressure across matches, and the WTA said she finished the tournament with 112 winners, the highest total in the field. Her title in Dubai added another major tour-level success to a résumé that includes a career-high singles ranking of No. 3 and a Grand Slam singles runner-up finish at the U.S. Open.
Pegula’s win over Svitolina improved her head-to-head record in their series to six victories in nine meetings and delivered her first Dubai title after multiple deep runs at top events. She left the court with a straight-sets final, a milestone WTA 1000 trophy and a quick turnaround to celebrate her birthday at home. The Dubai final also extended the tournament’s list of American champions to three, with Pegula joining Davenport and Williams as winners in the event’s modern era. – By Content Syndication Services.
