Ukraine's strongest tennis player Elina Svitolina (9th in the WTA ranking), who defeated her opponent from Croatia in the quarterfinals, will play in the final of the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai (UAE) for the first time in eight years with a prize fund of $4 million 88 thousand.
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In an incredible semifinal match (3 hours 3 minutes!), the 31-year-old Odessa woman defeated the 4th racket of the world, the champion of the US Open-2023 and “Roland Garros”-2025, the 21-year-old American Coco Gauff, whom she recently defeated in the ¼ finals of the Australian Open (6:1, 6:2). This time Elina spent much more energy, but again prevailed – 6:4, 6:7 (13:15), 6:4. The score of the personal meetings of the rivals was 3:2 in favor of the Ukrainian woman.
Reaching the final of the competition in the Emirates brought Svitolina $385,000 in prize money and 650 rating points. Elina, who won 15 out of 17 matches in 2026, will challenge for the main trophy of the tournament in a duel with the 5th racket of the world, the daughter of an American billionaire, Jessica Pegula, who defeated her compatriot Amanda Anisimova (6th) – 1:6, 6:4, 6:4.
We should add that Elina Svitolina, who also defeated Spaniard Paula Badosa (70th) and Olympic champion Belinda Bencic (13th) on her way to the final, is playing in Dubai for the 11th time. The Ukrainian has won the title there twice – in 2017 and 2018, and she has also reached the semifinals twice – in 2016 and 2019.
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Previously, “FACTS” reported that Elina Svitolina had won the tournament in Auckland since the beginning of the year and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Photo by Jimmie48
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