By Tony FairbairnJessica Pegula [4] v Elina Svitolina [7]H2H: Pegula leads 5-3DUBAI, UAE – Elina Svitolina battles Jessica Pegula in the Dubai final as the Ukrainian looks for a third title at the WTA 1000 event.
Jessica Pegula [4] v Elina Svitolina [7] H2H & Match Fundamentals
A fifth consecutive win for Jessica Pegula over Amanda Anisimova saw the American into her first Dubai final as she continues her impressive post-US Open form. After some brutal defeats at latter stages of tournaments, Pegula will now aim to win a big title and put herself in a good position heading into the US swing. Standing in Pegula’s way is Elina Svitolina as the Ukrainian defeated Coco Gauff in three sets to book her place in a third Dubai final of her career.
Jessica Pegula [4] v Elina Svitolina [7] H2H: Pegula leads 5-3 WTA Dubai 2026 Dubai, UAE Hard (O) Prize Money: $385,001/$665,000Second on Centre Court (Not before 15:00 GMT) Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required
Both players have defeated high-quality opponents in order to reach the final where WTA 1000 success awaits.
Jessica Pegula [4] route to the final
R1: BYE
R2: Varvara Gracheva [Q] 6-4 6-0
R3: Iva Jovic [16] 6-4 6-2
QF: Clara Tauson [12] 6-3 2-6 6-4
SF: Amanda Anisimova [2] 1-6 6-4 6-3
Elina Svitolina [7] route to the final
R1: BYE
R2: Paula Badosa 6-4 RET
R3: Belinda Bencic [9] 4-6 6-1 6-3
QF: Antonia Ruzic [LL] 3-6 6-2 6-3
SF: Coco Gauff [3] 6-4 6-7(13) 6-4
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (Last 52 Weeks)H2H:Jessica Pegula (WR 5) Elina Svitolina (WR 9) Tournament Previous BestSemi-Final (2023) Champion (2017, 2018) 1st Serve Return Points Won %40.339.1Return Points Won %46.846.1Break Point Conversion %45.950.8Break Point Saved %59.359.5Total Points Won %54.352.9
Pegula has been the more consistently clinical player over the last 12 months but Svitolina’s efficiency on break points shouldn’t be dismissed heading into this blockbuster final.
Playing Styles and Prediction
The impressive form of Pegula since the US Open continues as she is into the Dubai final after playing some consistently aggressive tennis.
Now Pegula aims to turn that form into titles and send a big message of intent heading into the sunshine doubles.
Ahead of the final Pegula previewed her clash with Svitolina as she said it will be an interesting battle of styles.
“Elina, coming up on a year now since I played her,” Pegula told the WTA website.
“We always have really tough matches. We play kind of similar styles. I think a little bit of counterpunching, but we can play aggressive. We’re very solid, I think, off both wings. I feel like with her, it’s always a mix of trying to be aggressive, but not overplaying because she also moves pretty well and has some good defence.”
Two-time champion Svitolina is up next for Pegula after the Ukrainian won a three set battle against Gauff.
The Ukrainian continues to impress on the biggest stages and will now aim to back up her Australian Open semi-final with a title in Dubai.
After her semi-final win, Svitolina admitted she is speechless and is hoping to recover well before the final.
“Speechless after that fight,” Svitolina explained to the WTA website.
“I was really trying to put myself out there, and I was playing like there is no tomorrow, just trying to put all the effort in.
“We’ll do everything possible. Physios are here trying to help me speed up the recovery. Of course, it’s not going to be easy. It’s a final. It’s important to give your everything. I will do my very best to recover and really be there for this big final. For me, it’s important just to keep fighting and trying to do everything that I can. We’ll see how it goes.”
Pegula will need to serve aggressively and will use her variety on the forehand to cause Svitolina problems.
Meanwhile, Svitolina will aim to be aggressive on the returns in order to pin Pegula behind the baseline.
This should be a classic final with both players have exceptional all-round games but Pegula’s slightly more stable game and form puts her as favourite.
Prediction: Pegula in three sets.
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