In a monumental display of resilience and athletic prowess, Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina secured a hard-fought victory over American phenom Coco Gauff in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The grueling encounter, which stretched to three hours and three minutes, culminated in a 6-4, 6-7 (13-15), 6-4 decision that showcased the finest elements of women’s tennis.
The match reached its climax on Svitolina’s sixth match point, concluding with Gauff’s forehand return finding the net. An emotionally overwhelmed Svitolina immediately covered her face in disbelief after surviving what she described as a ‘high-intensity’ battle featuring ‘incredible shot-making’ from both competitors.
This victory carries profound significance for the 29-year-old Ukrainian, who now stands one win away from securing her third Dubai title. A triumph in the final would place her alongside tennis legend Venus Williams as the second-most successful champion in the tournament’s history, trailing only Belgian great Justine Henin’s four titles.
The path to victory was anything but straightforward. The match featured a spectacular 28-point second-set tiebreak where Gauff demonstrated remarkable composure, saving four match points to force a decisive third set. This resilience from the young American highlighted why she remains one of the sport’s most promising talents despite the semifinal setback.
Svitolina now faces the challenge of physical and mental recovery before confronting world number five Jessica Pegula in Saturday’s final. The Ukrainian acknowledged Pegula’s formidable form after the American’s comeback victory against Amanda Anisimova in the other semifinal, emphasizing the need for peak physical condition given Dubai’s demanding playing conditions.
For Gauff, the defeat marks another narrow loss to Svitolina following their Australian Open quarterfinal encounter just weeks earlier. Despite the disappointment, the world number four maintained perspective, noting her satisfaction with reaching the semifinals after initially aiming simply to win one match in the tournament.
Svitolina’s achievement becomes more remarkable considering her recent return from maternity leave, with this final appearance representing her first in a WTA 1000 event in seven years—a testament to her dedication and the inspiring comeback she has engineered since becoming a mother.