On Friday, February 20, Elina Svitolina delivered one of the major surprises of the Dubai Open by eliminating young star Coco Gauff in the semifinals, thus securing her first WTA 1000 final in eight years. After an exciting match filled with twists and turns, the Ukrainian player did not hide her emotion and fervently thanked the fans present, also praising her opponent’s tenacity.
Svitolina started the match in style, quickly establishing herself as the dominant player and securing a comfortable victory in the first set. However, American player Gauff did not let herself be discouraged and, in a display of resilience, managed to save four match points and push the decision to a second set that lasted an impressive 85 minutes. In the decisive set, Svitolina regained her confidence and closed the match with a final score of 6-4, 6(13)-7, 6-4.
“I’m speechless after that battle. I was really trying to give my best, playing like there was no tomorrow. I am so grateful for the support. It’s really special to be back in a final here after a few years and have another chance to lift that beautiful trophy,” declared an emotional Svitolina, visibly touched by the atmosphere of the event.
The Ukrainian player did not hesitate to acknowledge Gauff’s qualities, stating: “Coco is a great fighter. I expected her to come back into the match. She has won so many important battles and big tournaments. I had to keep fighting, keep pushing. I’m very happy with the fight and the victory today.”
In addition, Svitolina made a point of mentioning her fellow Ukrainians, both those present in the audience and those supporting her from afar: “It’s very special to see so many flags. For me, I’m always fighting when I’m at a disadvantage. When I feel all these emotions, I try to keep in mind the really difficult moments that Ukraine is going through. I am very lucky to be here, representing Ukraine, and I try to do it in the best way possible.”
With this victory, Svitolina not only reaffirms her strength on the tour but also secures her second consecutive win over two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff in two months. The Ukrainian now advances to her first WTA 1000 final since Rome in 2018, where she will face Jessica Pegula.
On her path to the final, Svitolina began the tournament with a win by withdrawal against Paula Badosa, followed by a three-set battle against Belinda Bencic, and survived intense matches against Antonia Ružić and, of course, Coco Gauff. Pegula, for her part, also had a solid run in Dubai, defeating Varvara Gracheva and Iva Jovic in the early rounds before overcoming Clara Tauson and Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
With a head-to-head record favoring Pegula 5-3, the clash between the two tennis players promises to be an electrifying duel, set to take place on Saturday, February 21, which could mark Svitolina’s return to the top of women’s tennis. Expectations are high, and fans can hardly wait to see who will emerge victorious from this battle in the desert.
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