Carlos Alcaraz showcased his resilience and skill by converting his sixth match point to secure a thrilling victory over Andrey Rublev, advancing to the Qatar Open final. Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina overcame Coco Gauff in an epic battle to reach the Dubai Tennis Championships final.
Alcaraz, the world No. 1, delivered a gripping 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 win under the lights, extending his flawless start to 2026 with an 11-match winning streak. At just 22, and fresh off his Australian Open victory that completed his career Grand Slam, Alcaraz demonstrated poise under pressure, making his first final appearance in Doha.
Reflecting on his performance, Alcaraz said, "I know what I am capable of every time I step on the court. I'm proud of how I'm approaching each match and how it's paying off."
Rublev struggled with 14 unforced backhand errors in the first set but countered with precise forehands. Both players exchanged breaks, leading to a tense tie-break where Alcaraz held his nerve. A frustrated Rublev broke a racket string, while Alcaraz cleverly faked a slice to clinch the first set with a forehand down the line.
In the second set, Alcaraz broke Rublev twice to lead 5-3. Although Rublev saved three match points to break back, Alcaraz eventually sealed the win on his sixth match point as Rublev's backhand went wide.
Elsewhere, Czech star Jakub Mensik faced Frenchman Arthur Fils in the second semi-final.
Gauff vs. Svitolina: A Marathon Match
Coco Gauff endured a heart-wrenching 6-4, 6-7 (13-15), 6-4 loss to Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in the Dubai Tennis Championships semi-finals. Svitolina's second consecutive win over the world No. 4 came after a grueling three-hour contest, following her previous victory at the Australian Open quarter-finals.
Gauff battled through a dramatic 15-13 tie-break in the second set, saving four match points before winning on her seventh set point. The decider was a back-and-forth affair, with the ninth game proving crucial. Svitolina ultimately held firm to edge ahead 5-4 and served out the match.
"I'm speechless after that fight," Svitolina remarked. "Coco is such a big fighter. I'm very pleased with the win."
Pegula's Comeback Triumph
Jessica Pegula mounted an impressive comeback to defeat fellow American Amanda Anisimova 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, reaching her eighth WTA 1000 final. Anisimova dominated the first set and led 3-1 in the second, but Pegula rallied, breaking Anisimova three times to win the set and the match.
"We had a lot of cat-and-mouse points, and they mostly went my way," Pegula said. "I try to mix in variety and change things up."
Venus Williams Returns to Indian Wells
Tennis legend Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, has been awarded a wild-card entry into Indian Wells. At 45, Williams will compete in both singles and doubles at the Southern California event.
"It's great to be heading back to Indian Wells," Williams expressed. "I've made so many fun memories here over the years."
Williams, a four-time Olympic gold medallist and former world No. 1, has reached the Indian Wells semi-finals three times. She last competed there in 2024, also as a wild card.
The tournament runs from March 1-15 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis.