Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina stunned world number four Coco Gauff to book her place in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she will face American Jessica Pegula.
Pegula was the first to advance on Friday, recovering from a disastrous opening set and an early break in the second to defeat compatriot Amanda Anisimova 1-6 6-4 6-3.
Gauff, 21, had been aiming to set up an all-American final, but Svitolina prevailed 6-4 6-7 (13-15) 6-4 in a gripping three-hour, three-minute contest.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian held four match points in a dramatic second-set tie-break but was unable to convert them as Gauff fought back.
Undeterred, Svitolina regrouped to take the deciding set and seal a memorable victory.
“I was playing like there is no tomorrow, just trying to put all the effort in,” Svitolina said after the match.
The win sends her into the Dubai final for the first time since lifting back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.
In the men’s Qatar Open, world number one Carlos Alcaraz continued his flawless start to 2026 with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory over Russia’s Andrey Rublev to reach the final.
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The 22-year-old Spaniard, who claimed the Australian Open earlier this year to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, has now won 11 matches from 11 in 2026.
“I know what I am able to do every time I step on the court, what I am capable of doing,” Alcaraz said.
He will meet France’s Arthur Fils in the final after Fils defeated the Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Mensik had knocked out world number two Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard entry into Indian Wells, organisers confirmed on Friday.
The 45-year-old American will compete in both singles and doubles at the California tournament.
“It’s great to be heading back to Indian Wells and returning home to California,” Williams said in a statement.
