Jessica Pegula crowned champion at 26th WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
American star defeats Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 on Centre Court
DUBAI – Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, has crowned American champion Jessica Pegula at the 26th edition of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships women’s tournament.
The trophy presentation took place on Centre Court at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, bringing to a close an electrifying week of elite competition.
The prestigious tournament, a key stop on the Women’s Tennis Association 1000 calendar, was staged under the patronage of His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This year’s edition began with 16 of the world’s top 20 players and 35 of the top 40, underlining the event’s stature on the global tennis circuit.
Title decider
Pegula, ranked World No. 5, delivered a composed and commanding performance in the singles final. Facing Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, the American dictated play with precision groundstrokes and relentless consistency to seal a 6-2, 6-4 victory in front of a packed stadium.
The triumph places Pegula among distinguished company. She becomes only the third American to lift the Dubai women’s singles trophy, joining Lindsay Davenport and Venus Williams, and the first from the United States to do so since 2014. Her clinical straight-sets win capped a week in which she showcased both resilience and authority against a highly competitive field.
The awards ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Tennis and Padel Federation; Saeed Almarri, Secretary General of the UAE Tennis and Padel Federation; Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and Chairman of the Tournament Organising Committee; Salah Tahlak, Deputy Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and Tournament Director; and Sinead El Sibai, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Dubai Duty Free.
Doubles glory
The doubles final provided further high-quality action. Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani combined power with finesse to overcome Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Russia’s Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-3.
Dabrowski and Stefani controlled proceedings from the outset, breaking serve early and maintaining pressure throughout. Their assured performance secured their first Dubai title, adding another milestone to a tournament renowned for producing memorable doubles encounters.
Over the course of the week, players contested singles and doubles honours in front of enthusiastic crowds. The blend of established champions and emerging contenders ensured compelling match-ups across every round, reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the most anticipated stops on the WTA calendar.
Next up
Ramesh Cidambi described the 2026 WTA 1000 event as a tremendous success, highlighting the standard of competition and the vibrant atmosphere across the 26th edition. He expressed appreciation to players and officials for delivering a memorable tournament and looked ahead to welcoming participants back next year.
Salah Tahlak congratulated the winners and acknowledged the contribution of fans, media and the organising teams working behind the scenes to ensure the event’s smooth delivery.
Attention now shifts to the men’s competition, as the city prepares to host the Dubai Tennis Championships ATP 500 tournament from Monday 23 February to Saturday 28 February at the same venue, extending Dubai’s fortnight of top-tier international tennis.