Pegula clinches 10th career title with clinical Dubai victory over Svitolina
Jessica Pegula won the tournament on Saturday evening against Elina Svitolina.
Jessica Pegula, Dubai 2026 | © AP Photo/Altaf Qadri/SIPA Press
Jessica Pegula solidified her status as the most consistent force on the WTA Tour this Saturday, defeating a visibly fatigued Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 to claim the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title.
The victory marks a major milestone for the 31-year-old American, as it secures her 10th career singles title and her fourth at the WTA 1000 level, joining her prestigious trophies from Guadalajara (2022), Montreal (2023), and Toronto (2024).
Pegula’s clinical performance in the final was the culmination of a “machine-like” week where she navigated a treacherous draw, including a gritty comeback against world No. 6 Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals. With a 13-2 record to start 2026, Pegula has now reached the semifinals or better in seven consecutive tournaments, a streak of consistency rarely seen in the modern game.
“It’s a great birthday present for me” pegula said. I get to celebrate by flying back home in a few hours. Super happy to go home with the trophy. It was a great week.”
Svitolina now No.9
While Pegula was imperial, the story of the final was also one of physical limits. Svitolina entered the match having spent over seven hours on court across her previous three rounds, most notably a three-hour, three-minute marathon against Coco Gauff that concluded just before midnight on Friday.
That semifinal featured a 28-point tiebreak – the longest of the 2026 season – which clearly left the Ukrainian’s “gas tank” near empty. Despite the heavy legs, Svitolina’s fighting spirit was on full display as she refused to let Pegula cruise, saving break points late in the second set to force the American to serve it out.
For Svitolina, despite the loss, the week remains a triumph. Reaching her first WTA 1000 final as a mother and returning to the world’s top 10 is an extraordinary feat of resilience. She leaves Dubai ranked No. 9 in the world and sitting at No. 3 in the Race to Riyadh. Meanwhile, Pegula moves within striking distance of the world No. 4 spot.
