Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova have touched down in Dubai for the second WTA 1000 event of the 2026 season. The American stars will headline the prestigious tournament in the notable absence of Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek, both of whom have opted to skip the event. The main draw action of the Dubai Tennis Championships will commence on February 15, with top contenders like Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina, and defending champion Mirra Andreeva set to compete.
How Are Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova Spending Their Time in Dubai?
Jessica Pegula will make her return to the court for the first time since her Australian Open campaign, while Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova will hope to bounce back strongly in Dubai after their disappointing runs at the Qatar Open. Gauff suffered a shock 6-4, 6-2 loss to Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her opening match. On the other hand, Anisimova was forced to end her title defense and retire from her tournament opener due to illness.
Gauff admitted to being “super frustrated” with her level on the court, lamenting that the form she displayed during practice failed to carry over during matches. The 21-year-old has since turned her attention to the WTA 1000 event in Dubai, giving fans a dazzling glimpse of the Burj Khalifa after her arrival.
Meanwhile, Anisimova appeared in high spirits after her bout of illness, showing off her comfortable all-black ensemble while looking forward to a fresh start.
Pegula, on the other hand, hit the tennis court and shared a training montage as she geared up for her campaign.
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Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova Exchange Touching Galentine’s Day Messages
During an interaction with the media in Doha, Anisimova surprised Gauff with a sweet Galentine’s Day message, which said, “Keep spreading the joy. From me to you.” The 21-year-old was touched by Anisimova’s kind words and quickly penned a message in return, saying, “Aww, that’s super sweet. I feel like Amanda’s been smiling a lot more off-court. I feel like she’s happier. Oh my God, my handwriting is so bad guys.”
Gauff recently also spoke about the remarkable depth of American women’s tennis, revealing that the players all rooted for one another despite being competitors. She expressed her desire to see Anisimova, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys all do well at the Australian Open. Pegula advanced it the furthest out of the American contingent, falling short against eventual champion Elena Rybakina in the semifinals of the Melbourne Slam.
