Svitolina keeps finding ways to steal the headlines in Dubai.
First she edged past Belinda Bencic in a three-set test and later produced an upset of Coco Gauff to reach the final, with momentum, history and a title shot against Jessica Pegula waiting at the end of the week.
The Bencic Match And A Mothers’ Milestone
“Of course it’s a special one as always,”
Elina Svitolina
Svitolina battled past Belinda Bencic in a three-set match that flipped through momentum and patience, with Bencic initially taking control before Svitolina turned the contest around to claim the deciding set.
The match underlined a neat bit of history: earlier in the month the pair became the first set of mothers in tennis history to be ranked inside the WTA top 10, a fact that added extra context to every point and cheer.
Bencic, listed in the report as 28, pushed the match early and opened a lead, but Svitolina answered with a dominant second set and closed the final set with composed tennis to move deeper into the draw.
Svitolina’s recent form has been notable, marked by deep runs and a return to the upper tier of the rankings, with the tournament report referencing her as sitting at ninth on the WTA Tour as she navigates a favorable half of the draw.
Epic Semi Against Gauff
The semi-final against Coco Gauff turned into a proper epic, the kind of contest that keeps tennis fans awake and commentators reaching for dramatic adjectives as points slipped away in tight tiebreaks and long rallies.
Svitolina upset the world number four with a scoreline of 6-4 6-7 (13-15) 6-4, producing a finish after a match that lasted three hours and three minutes, according to the match report.
The BBC noted Svitolina had four match points in the second-set tiebreak and could not convert them, only to rally and claim the decider, which is a tidy example of resilience and a reminder that tennis rewards persistence.
What Comes Next And Why It Matters
With that semi gone, Svitolina advanced to face Jessica Pegula in the final after Pegula fought back to beat Amanda Anisimova, setting up a title match that promises contrasting styles and plenty of tactical nuance.
Svitolina’s path was helped by withdrawals and upsets elsewhere in the draw, but the quality of her wins, particularly the marathon versus Gauff, gives her a legitimate claim to the trophy and a boost in confidence.
The younger generation keeps showing up too, with Alexandra Eala making noise on the tour and publicly admiring the veterans; Eala said, “I had such a great time on the court,” after sharing big moments with pioneers like Svitolina, highlighting the sport’s bridging of generations.
Whether it is the motherhood milestone, the gritty semi against a top seed, or the final against Pegula, Svitolina’s Dubai week reads like a compact career highlight reel and a reminder that experience still matters in big moments.
The wins also reshape narratives for the rest of the season, sending Svitolina into spring with renewed belief and sending challengers back to the drawing board, which is precisely the kind of ripple effect that top tournaments are meant to produce.
Join the conversation on Facebook.
Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
