Carlos Alcaraz into Qatar Open final as Elina Svit...

Carlos Alcaraz transformed his sixth match level to seal a dramatic win over Andrey Rublev to achieve the Qatar Open last as Elina Svitolina defeated Coco Gauff in a marathon encounter to achieve the ultimate of the Dubai Tennis ‌Championships.

World No 1 Alcaraz battled for a gripping 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory underneath the lights to increase his excellent begin to 2026 to 11 matches.

The 22-year-old, who captured the Australian Open crown in January to turn into the youngest man to finish the profession Grand Slam, remained calm underneath stress to advance to the ultimate in Doha for the primary time.

“I do know what I’m able to do each time I step on the court docket, what I’m able to doing,” Alcaraz stated.

“The way in which that I’m approaching each match, I am simply actually proud about it. It is one thing I’m making an attempt to be higher at and it is paying off. I am pleased with myself [for] getting higher and maturing.”

A struggling Rublev made 14 unforced backhand errors within the first set, however outwitted Alcaraz ‌with exact forehands that nicked the baseline as each gamers broke the opposite twice every to enter a tie-break.

Alcaraz held his nerve to go 6-3 up as a annoyed Rublev repeatedly smashed ⁠the racket on his left knee, breaking a string.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz then pretended to ​slice however landed a forehand down the sideline to win ​the primary set.

Alcaraz broke Rublev twice to go 5-3 up ⁠within the second set and was serving for the match when the world No 14 saved three match factors to interrupt again.

However Alcaraz pushed to ⁠break once more for victory within the subsequent ​recreation, and eventually transformed his sixth match level when Rublev’s ​backhand landed broad.

Czech star Jakub Mensik takes on Frenchman Arthur Fils within the second semi-final afterward Friday.

Story of the Tape

Gauff wins EPIC tie-break however goes all the way down to Svitolina

Coco Gauff suffered an agonising 6-4 6-7 (13-15) 6-4 defeat to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina within the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis ‌Championships.

Svitolina secured ​her second consecutive victory over the world No 4 in a gruelling three-hour encounter, having beforehand crushed Gauff in straight units eventually month’s Australian Open ​quarter-finals.

Gauff received a nail-biting 15-13 tie-break within the second set – the longest tie-break on the WTA Tour since Barbora Krejcikova defeated Taylor Townsend on the US Open – by which she saved 4 match factors in it earlier than changing her seventh set level.

The momentum swung forwards and backwards in ​the decider, with the ninth recreation proving pivotal because it repeatedly went to ⁠deuce. Svitolina finally held her nerve to edge ⁠forward 5-4 earlier than serving out the match to seal a hard-fought victory.

“I am speechless after that battle. I used to be actually making an attempt to place myself out ‌there, taking part in as if there was no tomorrow,” stated Svitolina.

“It is actually particular to be within the last once more after a number of years. Coco is such an enormous fighter. I used to be anticipating her to ‌come again within the match. She’s received so many large tournaments. I am very happy with the battle and the win.”

Pegula fights again to beat Anisimova

Jessica Pegula battled again from the brink to defeat fellow American Amanda Anisimova 1-6 6-4 6-3, reaching the eighth WTA 1000 last of ​her profession.

Wimbledon and US Open finalist Anisimova took lower than half an hour to win the primary ​earlier than constructing a 3-1 lead within the ‌second set.

However Pegula held her nerve and broke Anisimova three ​occasions in a row to win the second set, earlier than securing victory within the decider.

“It isn’t like we now have ​very easy matches,” world No 5 Pegula stated after her fifth straight win over Anisimova.

“I do assume that I will take a while away from her. I will hit a low, flat ball, and never let her arrange and go for her large photographs, which is what she’s good at. I attempt to utilise that the very best I can after which combine in some selection, change issues up.

“We had loads of cat-and-mouse factors, they usually largely went my manner. In order that was good.”

Venus Williams returns to Indian Wells with wild-card entry

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus ‌Williams has been awarded a wild-card entry ‌into Indian Wells.

Williams, 45, will compete in each singles and doubles ​on the Southern California ‌desert occasion.

“It is nice to be heading again ​to Indian Wells and returning dwelling to California,” Williams stated.

“There’s nothing like ⁠competing in entrance of ⁠these unimaginable followers. I’ve made so many enjoyable ‌recollections right here through the years, and I am grateful to the match ‌for having me again.”

The four-time Olympic gold medallist and former world No 1 has reached ⁠the Indian Wells semi-finals three ​occasions. She final competed ​there in 2024, additionally as ​a wild card.

Williams performed at ⁠this yr’s Australian Open and reached the US Open doubles quarter-finals ⁠final yr with companion ​Leylah Fernandez.

The match will probably be ​held from March 1-15 – stay on Sky Sports activities Tennis.

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