By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, February 20, 2026
Photograph credit score: Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships.
Swirling in a spiral that noticed her lose 9 of the primary 11 video games, Jessica Pegula didn’t press the panic button.
Narrowing her focus and dialing in her drives, Pegula performed catch-up with conviction.
A resilient Pegula raced by way of 9 of the final 12 video games, sustaining her mastery of Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to her maiden Dubai closing.
It was Pegula’s fifth win over Anisimova in as many conferences and showcased her problem-solving expertise.
Blown out for a set-and-a-half, the Australian Open semifinalist started making use of her selection, spreading the court docket and serving with extra ambition to succeed in her first closing because the 2025 Wuhan the place she fell to Coco Gauff.
The fourth-seeded Pegula will play both third-seeded Gauff or seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina in tomorrow’s closing. Total, Pegula leads her former doubles accomplice Gauff 5-3 and has gained 5 of eight conferences vs. AO semifinalist Svitolina.
“Initially of the third it was 1-all and I stated to my coach I’m blissful I’m nonetheless right here,” Pegula stated. “Once you come out gradual towards Amanda she will wipe you off the court docket which is what she was doing…
“I knew I may get some break factors again in order that’s actually all I used to be specializing in… I got here right here with the intention I may play nicely in these situation and go deep. So I’m very blissful to be within the closing tomorrow.”
The 31-year-old Pegula, who celebrates her thirty second birthday in 4 days, will play for her fourth WTA 1000 championship.
For the reason that Dubai Obligation Free Championships’ inception in 2011, this was the occasion’s second all-American semifinal after the Williams sisters squared off in 2009.
5 weeks in the past, Pegula confirmed quick footwork, a stinging serve and baseline precision, powering previous Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1) into her maiden Australian Open semifinal.
Winless in 4 prior conferences vs. Pegula, Anisimova got here out with the extraordinary focus of a participant poised to show the tables on her career-long nemesis.
Driving the ball down the road with authority off each wings, Anisimova zapped a clear forehand strike to interrupt for a 2-0 lead.
The Wimbledon finalist held at 30 extending her result in 3-0 after 11 minutes.
The second seed’s quick flat drives have been touchdown so deep within the court docket, Pegula was usually left lunging attempting to flick again blocked replies.
Serving for the set, Anisimova opened with a double fault. Then, Anisimova banged 4 large serves in a row rolling by way of eight of the final 9 factors to slam shut the opening set after solely 29 minutes.
It was the primary time Anisimova took a set from Pegula because the second set of Pegula’s 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 victory within the 2024 Toronto closing. Anisimova had gained 14 of her final 15 matches when seizing the opening set, however Pegula was simply getting began on at the present time.
The size of the lasers Anisimova was rocketing robbed Pegula of response time. Anisimova drew a flat forehand into the web, scoring her second straight break to begin the second set.
The US Open finalist fired by way of a two-ace sport backing up the break for a 2-0 lead—her eighth win within the first 9 video games.
Pegula denied a break level, obtained away with a tame drop shot and held for the primary time because the fourth sport for 1-2.
That stand spurred Pegula, who despatched a number of low drives close to her opponent’s ankles drawing a flurry of errors for triple break level.
Steadying herself, Anisimova erased all three break factors, coaxing a netted forehand for deuce.
Measuring her signature shot, Anisimova torched her two-hander crosscourt then ran down a drop shot and lifted a forehand down the road for 3-1.
The pair traded breaks within the sixth and seventh video games with Anisimova scalding a backhand down the road to interrupt again for 4-3 and lift a clenched fist to her field.
Shrewd problem-solver Pegula was not fazed by her predicament. Pegula was mixing in some brief slices, shifting out of the corners with extra self-assurance and taking part in off her entrance foot extra continuously to make her slower opponent transfer extra usually.
Showcasing her internet expertise, Pegula gained a artful mini-tennis level performed from contained in the field breaking again within the eighth sport.
Anisimova was serving at 4-5 and had a mid-court forehand, however Pegula guessed proper, held her floor within the backhand nook and cranked a crosscourt backhand move. That strike helped Pegula earn two set factors.
A exact Pegula drew a floated forehand successful 12 of the final 16 factors in set two to drive a closing set.
“It’s a extremely powerful match up—it’s not like we’ve got very easy matches,” Pegula stated. “I do suppose I’m capable of take a while away from her and hit a low flat ball. We had numerous cat and mouse factors they usually principally went my method in order that was good.”
Within the opening set, Pegula was hitting the physique serve—and Anisimova was drilling deep returns when her compatriot missed her spot. Within the decider, Pegula hit the vast serve extra successfully to arrange her first strike.
Halfway by way of the decider, Anisimova netted a forehand drop shot to face break level then missed a forehand barely lengthy as Pegula broke for 3-1.
Displaying her versatility, Pegula lofted a inventive lob winner consolidating at 3- for 4-1—her seventh of the final eight video games.
Pressed to 30-all within the seventh sport, Pegula slid an ace off the T and performed the drop shot-backhand move mixture to carry for 5-2.
On match level, Anisimova sailed a closing drive and Pegula flipped her Yonex racquet apart in pleasure, elevating her 2026 report to 12-2.
