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Jessica Pegula gifted herself an early birthday present by capturing her fourth WTA 1000 title with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Elina Svitolina in the Dubai final on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded American dominated the match, improving her head-to-head record against Svitolina to 6-3 and denying the Ukrainian a chance to claim her third title in Dubai.
With her 32nd birthday just days away, Pegula’s victory marked her 10th career title and her continued dominance in the 2026 season. The win came after a dramatic semi-final against Amanda Anisimova, where Pegula staged a remarkable comeback from a set and a break down. In contrast, Svitolina, who had endured a gruelling three-hour battle against Coco Gauff, appeared fatigued in the final, allowing Pegula to secure an early double-break lead and never relinquish it.
“I couldn’t ask for a better birthday present,” Pegula shared in her post-match interview. “I’m super proud of myself. I had to play at a very high level, it was awesome.”
While the win was a personal triumph for Pegula, Svitolina also had much to be proud of. The 31-year-old reached her first WTA 1000 final since 2018, marking a strong comeback after returning to the top 10 following maternity leave. She has been in exceptional form, with a 15-3 win-loss record to start the year, and has admitted that her unexpected success is the result of hard work and a mental reset.
“I feel like I’m in a good place,” said Svitolina, reflecting on her impressive start to 2026.
The Dubai tournament saw several top players withdraw, including world number ones Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, but the event still showcased the strength of women’s tennis.
