By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, February 19, 2026
Photo credit: Fred Lee/Getty
Amanda Anismova turned tiebreaker into heartbreaker for Mirra Andreeva.
Anisimova squandered a 5-3 third-set lead and a match point, then amped up the pace in the tiebreaker dethroning defending Dubai champion Andreeva 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) to battle into the Dubai semifinals.
The second-seeded Anisimova beat Andreeva for the second time in as many meetings.
Anisimova advanced to her first final four of the season, setting up an all-American semifinal against Jessica Pegula.
World No. 5 Pegula pumped eight aces in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over 12th-seeded Clara Tauson.
It is Pegula’s eighth straight semifinal appearance dating back to the 2025 US Open where she lost to world No. 1 and eventual-champion Aryna Sabalenka, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6.
Chasing her 10th career title, Pegula is 4-0 lifetime vs. Anisimova, including a 6-2, 7-6(1) victory in their last meeting in the Australian Open quarterfinals last month.
Today, Wimbledon finalist Anisimova opened a 5-2 second-set lead only to see Andreeva reel off three games in a row to level.
Anisimova answered winning eight of the next nine points to take the second set and force a decider.
Again, Anisimova built a lead going up 5-3 only to see Andreeva fight back and save a match point with the American serving at 40-30.
In the tiebreaker, Anisimova blasted her backhand racing out to a 5-1 lead. Anisimova closed on her fourth match point.