Latifa bint Mohammed Presents Trophy to Jessica Pegula at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Dubai, The Gulf Observer: H.H. Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, presented American tennis star Jessica Pegula with the winner’s trophy at the 26th edition of the women’s tournament of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
The prestigious event, a key fixture on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 calendar, was held under the patronage of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The awards ceremony took place on the iconic Centre Court of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, concluding a thrilling week of world-class competition that featured 16 of the world’s top 20 players and 35 of the top 40.
World No. 5 Pegula secured the women’s singles title after a commanding performance in front of a packed stadium. Displaying remarkable precision and composure, she defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4. With the victory, Pegula joined compatriots Lindsay Davenport and Venus Williams as only the third American — and the first since 2014 — to claim the prestigious Dubai title.
The ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Tennis and Padel Federation; Saeed Almarri, Secretary General of the Federation; Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and Chairman of the Tournament Organising Committee; Salah Tahlak, Deputy Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and Tournament Director; and Sinead El Sibai, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Dubai Duty Free.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships once again reinforced its standing as a premier international sporting event, drawing the world’s top male and female tennis players. Throughout the week, athletes competed for singles and doubles honours before enthusiastic and engaged crowds.
In the women’s doubles final, Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani delivered an impressive display of power and precision to defeat Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Russia’s Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-3, capturing their first Dubai title.
Cidambi praised the success of the tournament, stating that the 2026 WTA 1000 event showcased the very best of women’s tennis and delivered one of the most memorable fan atmospheres in the championship’s 26 editions. He extended appreciation to the players, officials and fans for making the event a resounding success.
Tahlak echoed those sentiments, congratulating the winners and thanking fans, media representatives and behind-the-scenes staff for their contributions to the tournament’s continued excellence.
Attention now shifts to the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) 500 tournament, which is set to begin on Monday, February 23, and will run until Saturday, February 28, at the same venue.
