Jessica Pegula and Carlos Alcaraz Win Titles in Dubai and Qatar
Locker Room
February 22, 2026
Jessica Pegula danced with joy as she finally broke her frustrating run of nearly tournaments.
Seven semi-finals and two finals without a trophy made people wonder whether the billionaire’s daughter wanted success badly enough.
But plucky Pegula kept working and she kept dreaming. Now she has her reward.
‘You know what? A title would be nice. Maybe this week,’ she had told herself a few days earlier.
She revealed as much in her victory speech after a convincing 6-2, 6-4 victory over former champion Elina Svitolina.
Jessica Pegula will be dreaming of grass court glory at Wimbledon 2026 this summer too.
Pegula didn’t just win her tenth career title in Dubai. The trophy she earned was huge – and took all her remaining strength to lift.
The unique silver Dhow coffee pot or “dallah” evoked images of a genie’s lamp. Jessica Pegula had certainly conjured her best tennis of the week in the final itself.
Svitolina’s exhaustion after her marathon fight against Coco Gauff just a a few hours earlier might also have facilitated the American’s magic.
Pegula was just delighted to have given herself the perfect 32nd birthday present a few days early.
She said: ‘It’s a great birthday present for me. I get to celebrate by flying home in a few hours. I’m just super happy to be going home with the trophy.’
That might not have been the most diplomatic acknowledgement of her generous hosts or the sheer luxury of her immediate environment. But you could understand the sentiment.
And now the sky’s the limit for Jessica Pegula, as the sunshine double approaches on home US courts.
And Carlos Alcaraz is hitting even greater heights. Some of the extraordinary winners he summoned from desperate defensive positions in Qatar were simply mind-blowing.
Poor Arthur Fils looked at the Spaniard in disbelief during his 6-2, 6-1 drubbing. Carlitos is so good he just doesn’t seem human at times.
Jessica Pegula and Carlos Alcaraz were emphatic title winners this weekend. They will be popular contenders at Wimbledon 2026 too.
And right now the most magical tennis player on the planet is the unstoppable Alcaraz – by some distance.
He is head and shoulders above the rest so far in 2026 – despite the much-celebrated rivalry he has developed with Jannik Sinner.
Carlos Alcaraz is a sporting phenomenon. And the greatest place to see him in action this year is at the All England Club, London.
Come and see Carlos Alcaraz and Jessica Pegula at historic and glamorous Wimbledon 2026.
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