Jessica Pegula has once again demonstrated her ability to triumph over Amanda Anisimova, solidifying her dominance in their head-to-head encounters. The Buffalo native recently continued her unbeaten streak against Anisimova, taking a thrilling victory at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Pegula found herself in a challenging position early on, dropping nine of the first 11 games. Anisimova seemed poised to change the narrative, but Pegula's resilience shone through. After missing a crucial 0-40 opportunity, Pegula mounted an impressive comeback, securing a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 win to advance to the final.
Reflecting on her performance, Pegula acknowledged the danger of starting slow against a player like Anisimova. "When you come out slow against Amanda, she can really just wipe you off the court, which is what she was doing," Pegula noted. Despite the rocky start, she focused on creating break opportunities, a strategy that paid off in the end.
Pegula's 2026 season is off to a stellar start, boasting a 12-2 record and three Top 10 victories, all against fellow Americans. Her notable wins include defeating reigning champion Madison Keys in Melbourne and continuing her dominance over Anisimova.
With three WTA 1000 titles already under her belt, all on hard courts in North America, Pegula is eager to break her current streak of three consecutive losses in 1000-level finals. Her last runner-up finish came against Coco Gauff in Wuhan last October.
Looking ahead, a potential rematch with Gauff looms, as Gauff faces Elina Svitolina in another Australian Open quarterfinal rematch. The anticipation builds as Pegula aims to capture yet another prestigious title.