WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Round-Up: American trio storms into semifinals – Gauff dismantles Eala as Anisimova survives Andreeva

A day packed with high-level tennis at the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, with a notable round for the top-3 American players. Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova survived tough three-set battles to advance to the semifinals, in a day marked by the elimination of defending champion Mirra Andreeva.

The one who secured the most convincing victory was Coco Gauff, who conceded just two games in her win over Alexandra Eala – her best performance in a long time. She will face Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who had to fight harder than expected against surprise Antonia Ruzic to return to the Dubai semifinals for the third time in her career.

The day began with a high-level match between Jessica Pegula (No. 5) and 2025 Dubai runner-up Clara Tauson (No. 15) – who came in with eight wins in her last nine matches in Dubai. The American was the favorite in terms of experience and ranking, although the Dane was without doubt a tricky rival, owner of one of the most consistent serves on Tour.

Pegula started firmly with an early break and, backed by her serve, quickly moved ahead to 3-0. Tauson’s slow start proved costly, and although she later found confidence on serve – even creating break opportunities – Pegula ultimately secured the set 6-3.

The reaction from the Dane came in the second set, where this time she was the one who grabbed the break and the lead up to 3-0. The 23-year-old did not hesitate on serve – winning 93% of points on her first serve and conceding only five service points. Tauson maintained the advantage and applied more pressure on her opponent’s serve before closing the set 6-2.

The deciding set remained tight for a long stretch, with neither player even creating break opportunities. At 3-3 the tension was evident and Pegula managed the pressure better. Tauson’s first-serve consistency dropped and Pegula earned the crucial break. A couple of service games later, the world No. 5 showed conviction and secured the victory, advancing for the 14th time in her career to a WTA 1000 semifinal – and for the second time in Dubai (2023, eliminated by Barbora Krejcikova).

Amanda Anisimova (No. 6) became the second semifinalist of the tournament after eliminating defending champion Mirra Andreeva (No. 7) in a true battle lasting two hours and 40 minutes. Both players had their opportunities to close out the victory, but their fight extended longer than expected.

Andreeva began by showing the quality of a defending champion, and in the first set she was outstanding on return. The Russian claimed 56% of return points and converted three breaks in four opportunities. Combined with four aces and 68% first-serve efficiency, she took the lead 6-2. Minutes later, she opened the second set with a break to move ahead 2-0 at a moment when Anisimova appeared lost in the match.

However, the American would not give up easily, shifting the momentum of the contest by claiming two consecutive breaks – and a total of five games in a row. Although she hesitated before closing the set – dropping her serve once again – and Andreeva recovered to level at 5-5, a tie-break seemed inevitable. But Anisimova struck hard in the 12th game, sealing the second set 7-5.

The third set began with exchanged breaks and Andreeva took the lead to 3-1 after two consecutive breaks. Anisimova responded once more, this time winning four games in a row. She served at 5-3 and had a match point but could not convert it.

Shortly after, it was Andreeva who seized momentum: two consecutive breaks and she would serve for the match at 6-5. However, Anisimova forced a tie-break with a break at the final moment and proved stronger in the decisive points. The American claimed three consecutive mini-breaks and on her fourth match point closed the victory 2-6, 7-5, 7-6, while Andreeva left the court in tears after being unable to defend her title in Dubai.

A straightforward victory for Coco Gauff (No. 4), who needed just over an hour to dismiss Filipino Alexandra Eala (No. 47) 6-0, 6-2. The American was impeccable from the beginning, winning the first 10 games in a row. A completely overwhelmed Eala managed a brief recovery at 0-4 in the second set, but it was only an illusion in a match controlled entirely by the American.

The two-time Grand Slam champion produced a first set close to perfection. Her 52% first-serve percentage did not prevent her from achieving 68% effectiveness on service points – and she was even stronger on return, winning 72% of those points. For Eala, the serve simply did not function, as despite landing 61% of first serves – even better than Gauff – she won just 28% of those points. The American claimed three consecutive breaks and faced no break points to bagel her opponent 6-0.

The pattern did not change significantly in the second set, where Gauff maintained pressure from the start. Crowd support was not enough to lift Eala, who suffered two consecutive breaks early and fell behind 0-4. The 20-year-old took advantage of a brief lapse from Gauff to win a couple of games before the end, but ultimately Gauff secured one final break before closing out a commanding 6-0, 6-2 victory. It marks her 13th WTA 1000 semifinal – a category in which she holds three titles so far.

The only non-American in the semifinals is Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (No. 9), who appeared to have the least challenging semifinal matchup – considering the inexperience of her opponent at this stage of a WTA 1000. Antonia Ruzic entered the draw as a lucky loser and produced a dream run to reach her first quarterfinal at this level. She also managed to push Svitolina hard – taking the opening set – before the Ukrainian produced an impressive comeback.

Ruzic was particularly aggressive on return early on, claiming two consecutive breaks after several opportunities conceded by Svitolina. The Ukrainian improved her serving rhythm as the games progressed, but Ruzic remained solid on her own serve to take the lead 6-3.

From there the match shifted. In the second set, Svitolina showed why she is one of the best returners on Tour, claiming up to three consecutive breaks. The Ukrainian secured the set 6-2, winning 57% of the points played.

The deciding set was not simple, with Svitolina wasting several break points from the first return game. Only on her fourth opportunity, midway through the set, did the 31-year-old take the lead, and in the closing minutes she showed conviction to seal the victory 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. A strong showing from the 2017 Dubai champion, who advances to the semifinals of the tournament for the third time in her career.