Elina Svitolina triumphed over Coco Gauff, the world’s fourth-ranked player, in a gripping semifinal match at the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai. The match lasted over three hours, concluding with a score of 6-4, 6-7(13), 6-4.
This marks Svitolina’s second tournament since her impressive semifinal run at the Australian Open. The top-ranked Ukrainian player had previously returned to competitive play in Doha, where she was eliminated in her second match.
In Dubai, Svitolina showcased her resilience, winning three matches to reach the semifinals. She advanced past Spain’s Paula Badosa by way of retirement and faced tough competition from Belinda Bencic and Antonija Ruzic, both of whom pushed her to three sets.
Match Highlights
- In the opening set, Svitolina found herself trailing 1-3 but rallied to take the lead at 5-4, ultimately securing the set on her serve.
- The second set proved to be the longest of the match, lasting nearly an hour and a half. Svitolina saved two set points against Gauff at 5-6, forcing a tiebreak.
- During the tiebreak, the two players exchanged 28 rallies, with Gauff narrowly winning 15-13. Svitolina had the chance to close out the match in two sets but failed to convert four match points.
- Gauff initially led 1-0 in the third set, but Svitolina regained control, saving two crucial break points at 4-4 before finally converting her fifth match point.
WTA 1000, Dubai Semifinal
Elina Svitolina (Ukraine, 7) vs. Coco Gauff (USA, 3) — 2:1 (6:4, 6:7(13), 6:4)
Significance of the Victory
- This victory marks Svitolina’s second win over Gauff this season, having previously defeated her in straight sets during the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open.
- With this win, Svitolina reaches her first WTA 1000 final in eight years, last competing for a title at this level in May 2018 when she won in Rome against Simona Halep.
- In the final, Svitolina will face Jessica Pegula, currently ranked fifth in the world. The head-to-head record stands at 5-3 in favor of Pegula.
Elina Svitolina's remarkable victory over Coco Gauff in the Dubai semifinals propels her to her first WTA 1000 final in eight years. This win not only showcases her resilience but also sets the stage for a challenging match against Jessica Pegula.