Carlos Alcaraz transformed his sixth match level to seal a dramatic win over Andrey Rublev to succeed in the Qatar Open closing as Elina Svitolina defeated Coco Gauff in a marathon encounter to succeed in the ultimate of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
World No 1 Alcaraz battled for a gripping 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory below the lights to increase his excellent begin to 2026 to 11 matches.
The 22-year-old, who captured the Australian Open crown in January to turn out to be the youngest man to finish the profession Grand Slam, remained calm below stress to advance to the ultimate in Doha for the primary time.
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Alcaraz was in buoyant temper after beating Rublev to succeed in the Qatar Open closing
“I know what I am able to do every time I step on the court, what I am capable of doing,” Alcaraz stated.
“The way that I am approaching every match, I’m just really proud about it. It’s something I am trying to be better at and it’s paying off. I’m proud of myself [for] getting better and maturing.”
A struggling Rublev made 14 unforced backhand errors within the first set, however outwitted Alcaraz with exact forehands that nicked the baseline as each gamers broke the opposite twice every to enter a tie-break.
Alcaraz held his nerve to go 6-3 up as a annoyed Rublev repeatedly smashed the racket on his left knee, breaking a string.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz then pretended to slice however landed a forehand down the sideline to win the primary set.
Alcaraz broke Rublev twice to go 5-3 up within the second set and was serving for the match when the world No 14 saved three match factors to interrupt again.
However Alcaraz pushed to break once more for victory within the subsequent sport, and at last transformed his sixth match level when Rublev’s backhand landed large.
Czech star Jakub Mensik takes on Frenchman Arthur Fils within the second semi-final afterward Friday.
Story of the Tape
Gauff wins EPIC tie-break however goes all the way down to Svitolina
Elina Svitolina (proper) stored up her latest successful run towards Coco Gauff as she edged the American
Coco Gauff suffered an agonising 6-4 6-7 (13-15) 6-4 defeat to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina within the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Svitolina secured her second consecutive victory over the world No 4 in a gruelling three-hour encounter, having beforehand overwhelmed Gauff in straight units ultimately month’s Australian Open quarter-finals.
Gauff received a nail-biting 15-13 tie-break within the second set – the longest tie-break on the WTA Tour since Barbora Krejcikova defeated Taylor Townsend on the US Open – through which she saved 4 match factors in it earlier than changing her seventh set level.
The momentum swung backwards and forwards in the decider, with the ninth sport proving pivotal because it repeatedly went to deuce. Svitolina ultimately held her nerve to edge forward 5-4 earlier than serving out the match to seal a hard-fought victory.
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Highlights of the Dubai Tennis Championships match between Svitolina and Gauff
“I’m speechless after that fight. I was really trying to put myself out there, playing as if there was no tomorrow,” stated Svitolina.
“It’s really special to be in the final again after a few years. Coco is such a big fighter. I was expecting her to come back in the match. She’s won so many big tournaments. I’m very pleased with the fight and the win.”
Pegula fights again to beat Anisimova
Jessica Pegula battled again from 6-1 3-1 all the way down to defeat fellow American Amanda Anisimova in Dubai
Jessica Pegula battled again from the brink to defeat fellow American Amanda Anisimova 1-6 6-4 6-3, reaching the eighth WTA 1000 closing of her profession.
Wimbledon and US Open finalist Anisimova took lower than half an hour to win the primary earlier than constructing a 3-1 lead within the second set.
However Pegula held her nerve and broke Anisimova three occasions in a row to win the second set, earlier than securing victory within the decider.
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Highlights of the Dubai Tennis Championships match between Pegula and Anisimova
“It’s not like we have really easy matches,” world No 5 Pegula stated after her fifth straight win over Anisimova.
“I do suppose that I can take a while away from her. I can hit a low, flat ball, and never let her arrange and go for her large photographs, which is what she’s good at. I attempt to utilise that the most effective I can after which combine in some selection, change issues up.
“We had a lot of cat-and-mouse points, and they mostly went my way. So that was good.”
Venus Williams returns to Indian Wells with wild-card entry
Venus Williams has been awarded a wild-card entry into Indian Wells
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been awarded a wild-card entry into Indian Wells.
Williams, 45, will compete in each singles and doubles on the Southern California desert occasion.
“It’s great to be heading back to Indian Wells and returning home to California,” Williams stated.
“There’s nothing like competing in front of these incredible fans. I’ve made so many fun memories here over the years, and I’m grateful to the tournament for having me back.”
The four-time Olympic gold medallist and former world No 1 has reached the Indian Wells semi-finals three occasions. She final competed there in 2024, additionally as a wild card.
Williams performed at this 12 months’s Australian Open and reached the US Open doubles quarter-finals final 12 months with accomplice Leylah Fernandez.
The event shall be held from March 1-15 – reside on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
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