Jessica Pegula delivered another impressive performance of her career, defeating Elina Svitolina in the final on Saturday, February 21, in Dubai. She dominated the match from the start and didn’t let Svitolina gain any momentum, making it a lot easier for her to secure the win.
After the match, both players expressed their honest opinions on the match result and shared their week-long experience in front of the Dubai crowd.
Jessica Pegula Defeats Elina Svitolina to Win Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Pegula defeated Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday, February 21, at the Centre Court of the Aviation Club Tennis Center to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The fourth seed performs with composure and precision throughout the match, dominating from the very first point. The match lasted just over 70 minutes, with the entire crowd applauding for the American after an impressive week in the United Arab Emirates.
During the post-match on-court interviews, both players thanked the immense support of the Dubai crowd, which fueled their performances all week. Pegula, who will turn 32 on Tuesday, February 24, gave herself a pre-birthday gift, which she addressed during her winner’s speech.
“It’s a great birthday present for me. I get to celebrate by flying back home in a few hours. Super happy to go home with a trophy. It was a great week,” she said.
She then thanked the audience, saying, “Thank you guys so much for coming out to support us. It was a great atmosphere, especially the last two nights, not only supporting me, but supporting all the girls here that compete and fight so hard. Every single day, all week, so I know that we really appreciate it. What’s most fun for us is being able to play in front of the fans. So, thank you, guys, so much for coming out.”
Jessica Pegula after beating Elina Svitolina in Dubai final:
“It’s a great birthday present for me. I get to celebrate by flying back home in a few hours. Super happy to go home with the trophy. It was a great week.” pic.twitter.com/Goa91YEoME
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 21, 2026
Similar feelings were reflected by Svitolina, who began by congratulating her opponent, saying, “It was a tough match today. Congrats, Jess, for this wonderful week, for you and your team. For me personally, it was a great week. I had lots of great battles. Today, unfortunately, a little bit short. But still very, very happy to play good tennis. I always love to play here. Very good feeling.”
When asked about the atmosphere in the Dubai Championships, Svitolina expressed genuine gratitude to the people who made the tournament possible. “Yeah, thank you so much to everybody who came to support us every night. Really, really special. Thank you to all the sponsors, ball boys, and hair umpires. It’s always really special to play here for me and for everybody. So, yes, you guys make it very special. Thank you.”
Elina Svitolina after losing to Jessica Pegula in the Dubai final:
“It was a tough match today. Congrats Jess for this wonderful week for you and your team. For me personally it was a great week. I had lots of great battles. Today unfortunately, a little bit short. But still… pic.twitter.com/Fjg87HRPWW
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 21, 2026
Pegula fired 3 aces while committing just two double faults and had an excellent serving efficiency, winning nearly 80% of her first serve points. She won 8 of 9 service games, accounting for nearly 60% of the match’s total points.
This marked the 10th career title for Pegula and her 4th WTA 1000 title, coming just three days ahead of her birthday, making it very special for the champion. So far, in 2026, the American has a record of 13-2, after impressive performances at the Brisbane International, the 2026 Australian Open, and now in Dubai. Interestingly, she has reached the final four at every tournament she’s played since the 2025 US Open, including Beijing, Wuhan, and the 2025 WTA Finals.
MORE: ‘Lost Years of My Life’ – Coco Gauff Gets Real About How Her Dubai Exit Unfolded
On the other hand, Svitolina reached her first WTA 1000 championship match in 8 years. Her semifinal match against World No. 4 Coco Gauff was a gruelling three-hour battle which finished late at night, around 11:30 PM local time. The Ukrainian’s Dubai campaign showcases the resilience that has defined her career, as she made a comeback after having a baby, is currently at No. 9 on the WTA Women’s ranking list, and is beating the world’s best players in every tournament.
Much like Pegula, she has also enjoyed a great start to the season, winning the ASB Classic in January, reaching the semifinals of the 2026 Australian Open, and now this runner-up finish after a round-of-16 exit in Qatar.
