Jessica Pegula keeps collecting semifinals like souvenir towels — and she is not apologizing for the luggage space they take.
After a gritty 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win over Clara Tauson, the American advanced to the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, adding another deep run to a season that has rarely seen her bow out early.
Pegula Prevails In Dubai Quarterfinal
Pegula, the tournament’s fourth seed, ground past Tauson in a match that swung in momentum and temperament, closing out at 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to secure her place in the last four in Dubai’s WTA 1000 field.
Prior to Tauson, Pegula had dropped just a single set in the tournament and navigated earlier rounds with more routine scorelines over Varvara Gracheva and teen Iva Jovic, showing both control and the occasional willingness to dig deep.
The Dubai result adds to a season that already included semifinal runs in Brisbane and at the Australian Open, underlining a pattern of consistent late-stage results rather than the occasional isolated breakthrough.
Per Opta Ace, Pegula has now reached seven straight semifinals on the WTA Tour, a sequence unmatched since Agnieszka Radwanska managed a similar run in 2016, marking a rare and durable streak at the top level.
That sequence stretches across two seasons and includes a trip to the final in Wuhan, though Pegula has not converted any of these runs into a title so far, with Wuhan producing her closest finish as a runner up.
How She Juggles Singles, Doubles And Extra Requests
Pegula has competed in singles and some form of doubles at five of her last seven events, and reporters asked how she balances that workload amid rising profile and additional off-court requests that come with success.
I think because I’m able to manage a lot of things naturally, maybe with my personality, that it doesn’t quite worry me and stress me out.
Jessica Pegula
On court, Pegula mixes composed baseline aggression with the tactical variety that comes from doubles experience, and off court she admits to saying yes to many obligations, trusting her laid back nature to keep things from becoming overwhelming.
The American edged past Iva Jovic earlier in Dubai, a match that was billed as a potential trap given Jovic’s physical style and youth, but Pegula used experience and a stronger serve to pull away in the second set for a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Jovic, just 18 and riding a rapid rise toward a career-high ranking near the top 20, drew the “mini-me” comparison from Pegula before their match, a description Pegula later expanded on while detailing the subtle differences in temperament and intensity.
Where Jovic tends to play with extra intensity and a tight routine, Pegula said she sees similarities in timing and early ball striking, yet those small personality and focus differences are what separate veteran composure from youthful fire.
Pegula is currently listed inside the top ranks of the game as the world number five and she will now face Amanda Anisimova in the Dubai semifinals, a matchup that will test whether this streak can produce a title before the spring swing deepens.
The broader context is clear: Pegula reached the semifinals of the 2025 US Open and lost to Aryna Sabalenka, who went on to capture the title, and that Grand Slam run is one of several indicators of how close she has come at the very highest levels.
For now, the question is whether this run of consistent semifinal appearances will eventually convert into trophies, or if Pegula will remain an elite contender who collects deep runs and keeps the rest of the tour honest.
Her blend of steadiness, improving serve and doubles-aware instincts gives her a practical edge against younger ball strikers, but the margin for error at WTA 1000 events is thin and every tight game counts toward the final result.
Either way, Pegula’s sequence has become one of the more compelling narratives of the season, equal parts durability and quiet assertion, and it keeps the conversation interesting as spring tournaments start to arrive on hard and clay courts alike.
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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.
