Jessica Pegula Reaches Dubai Final, Matches Serena and Navratilova Milestones

The 31-year-old American rallied to defeat Amanda Anisimova and advance to her eighth WTA 1000 final.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Jessica Pegula has reached the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating fellow American Amanda Anisimova in a hard-fought three-set match. Pegula rallied from a slow start to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, advancing to her eighth WTA 1000 final and her first ever in Dubai. With this result, Pegula has become the third player to reach five or more finals at Tier 1 or WTA 1000 events after turning 30, joining an exclusive club alongside Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova.

Why it matters

Pegula's achievement of reaching five or more WTA 1000 finals after turning 30 is a remarkable feat, putting her in the company of two all-time tennis greats. This highlights Pegula's continued excellence and consistency at the highest level of the sport, even as she has reached the latter stages of her career.

The details

Pegula's victory over Anisimova was a hard-fought affair, with the 31-year-old rallying from a slow start to secure the win. She will now face Jasmine Paolini in the final, after the Italian came through an epic three-set battle against Sorana Cirstea earlier in the day. Pegula has now reached her eighth WTA 1000 final, with previous runs in Wuhan, Miami, Cincinnati, Canada, and Seoul.

  • Pegula reached the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on February 20, 2026.
  • Pegula's previous best result in Dubai was a semifinal run.

The players

Jessica Pegula

A 31-year-old American tennis player who has now reached her eighth WTA 1000 final, matching the achievements of tennis legends Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova.

Amanda Anisimova

A fellow American tennis player who Pegula defeated in the Dubai semifinals, maintaining her perfect 5-0 record against Anisimova on the WTA Tour.

Jasmine Paolini

The Italian tennis player who will face Pegula in the Dubai final after coming through an epic three-set battle against Sorana Cirstea.

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What’s next

Pegula will face Jasmine Paolini in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on February 21, 2026, where she will be looking to win her first title since Seoul in October last year.

The takeaway

Jessica Pegula's remarkable achievement of reaching five or more WTA 1000 finals after turning 30 puts her in elite company alongside tennis legends Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova, underscoring her continued excellence and consistency at the highest level of the sport.