By Richard Pagliaro Friday, February 20, 2026
Image source: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Caught in a spiral that resulted in her losing nine of her first 11 games, Jessica Pegula No emergency button was pressed.
Pegula narrowed her focus, increased her offensive intensity, and pursued the game resolutely.
The tenacious Pegula has lasted nine of the past 12 games, keeping her focus on Amanda Anisimova He advanced to the Dubai final for the first time with a score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
It was Pegula’s fifth win over Anisimova in as many matches, demonstrating her ability to solve problems.
The Australian Open semi-finalist, beaten in a set and a half, began using her versatility, extending the court and serving with greater ambition to reach her first final since the 2025 Wuhan Olympics. Coco Gough.
No. 4 seed Pegula will face No. 3 seed Gauff or Seventh seed Elena Svitolina in tomorrow’s final. Overall, Pegula leads her former doubles partner Gauff 5-3 and has won five of eight meetings with AO semifinalist Svitolina.
“At the beginning of the third period, the score was 1-1, and I told my coach, I’m glad I’m still here,” Pegula said. “When you’re slow against Amanda, she can wipe you off the court and that’s what she’s doing…
“I know I can get some break points back, so that’s all I’m really focused on…I came here with the intention that I can play well and go far in this situation. So I’m excited to be in the final tomorrow.”
The 31-year-old Pegula, who celebrates her 32nd birthday in four days, will compete for her fourth WTA 1000 title.
Since the Dubai Duty Free Championship was launched in 2011, this is the second time the event has reached the national semifinals, following the 2009 showdown between the Williams sisters.
Five weeks ago, Pegula showed quick feet, sharp serve and baseline accuracy to beat Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1) to reach her first Australian Open semifinal.
Anisimova had failed to win in four previous matches against Pegula, but she showed intense focus in the match and was ready to turn the tables on her career nemesis.
Anisimova carried the ball to the baseline with the power of the wings and hit a clean forehand for a 2-0 lead.
The Wimbledon finalist tied the score to 30 11 minutes later to extend the lead to 3-0.
The second seed’s quick flat shots landed deep in the court, and Pegula was often left sprinting to try to bounce off blocked recoveries.
In the service game, Anisimova made a double fault at the beginning. Subsequently, Anisimova hit four consecutive big serves and won eight of the last nine points, locking the first set in just 29 minutes.
This is the first time Anisimova has taken a set from Pegula since Pegula won 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in the second set of the 2024 Toronto final. Anisimova had won 14 of her last 15 games in the first set, but Pegula’s day was just getting started.
Anisimova’s laser increased in length like a rocket, depriving Pegula of reaction time. Anisimova’s forehand went straight into the net, breaking serve for the second time in a row to start the second set.
The U.S. Open finalist hit two aces in the match to take a 2-0 lead, her eighth win in her first nine matches.
Pegula denied a break point and escaped with a gentle lob to level the score at 1-2 for the first time since the fourth game.
The stance spurred Pegula on, and she landed a few low blows near her opponent’s ankles, forcing a series of errors and earning three break points.
Anisimova held her ground, erasing all three break points and leveling the match with a forehand into the net.
Anisimova weighed in on her signature shot, hitting the ball with her hands crossed before running a lob and raising a forehand from the baseline to make it 3-1.
The two broke serve alternately in the sixth and seventh games. Anisimova hot-balled the ball with a backhand from the baseline, chasing the score to 4-3, and raised her clenched fist toward the penalty area.
Pegula, a savvy problem solver, is not fazed by her dilemma. Pegula mixed in some short cuts, came out of corners more confidently, and kicked with the front foot more often to get slower opponents moving more often.
Pegula showed off her tennis skills as she fought back from inside the penalty area in the eighth game to earn a clever mini-tennis point.
Anisimova served at 4-5 and had a midcourt forehand, but Pegula guessed right, held her ground in the backhand corner and hit a cross-court backhand pass. That goal helped Pegula win two set points.
Pegula’s precise floating forehand won 12 of the final 16 points of the second set to force the final set.
“It was a very tough game — we didn’t have an easy game,” Pegula said. “I did think I could take some time away from her and hit a low ball. We had a lot of cat and mouse spots and they were mostly going my direction, so that was good.”
In the first set, Pegula hit a body serve and Anisimova made deep returns when her compatriot was out of position. In the deciding set, Pegula hit her wide serve more effectively to set up her first attack.
In the middle of the deciding game, Anisimova broke serve with a forehand lob, and then missed the forehand slightly. Pegula broke serve and the score was 3-1.
Pegula showed her versatility when she hit a creative lob winner at 3-4-1, her seventh in her past eight games.
With the game tied at 30 in the seventh game, Pegula hit an ace on the T stage and hit a lob and backhand pass combination to bring the score to 5-2.
On match point, Anisimova hit her final shot and Pegula happily tossed her Yonex racket aside, improving her 2026 record to 12-2.
