Svitolina defeats Gauf in three-set thriller

Elina Svitolina battled for more than three hours to upset world No4 Coco Gauff to reach the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The Ukrainian saw her opponent save five match points before the world No9 finally managed to seal the win, 6-4, 6-7(13), 6-4.

The two players had also faced each other at last month’s Australian Open, where Svitolina claimed the victory and the 31-year-old once again made her experience count when things got tight—despite being unable to finish the contest during an engrossing second-set tiebreak.

“It was extremely tough physically and mentally,” said Svitolina, who won back-to-back titles in Dubai in 2017 and 2018 and has since given birth to her daughter Skai.

“Of course, it was important for me to bounce back after that second set. I had some chances to close the match but unfortunately, they didn’t go my way. I was trying to really put my head down and keep fighting; keep trying to find the opportunities. I’m very happy I could stay composed in a way and close the third set.”

She will face World No5 Jessica Pegula, who defeated Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 and move closer to a third Dubai title and first WTA 1000 title since 2018.