Jessica Pegula cruises past Elina Svitolina to clinch Dubai title

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pegula-jessica/KdojxrAR/"]Pegula[/a], who turns 32 on Tuesday, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/pegula-j-KdojxrAR/svitolina-e-jyngIesG/?mid=nyGXmWc5"]became the second-oldest woman to win the tournament[/a] after her American compatriot [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/williams-venus/M7dojKaa/"]Venus Williams[/a], who won it in 2014 when she was 33.[/p][p]"[b]It’s a great birthday present for me. I get to celebrate by flying back home in a few hours. Super happy to go home with the trophy. It was a great week[/b]," Pegula said after ending a three-match losing streak in WTA 1000 finals.[/p][embed guid="5debf8c0-602f-453f-aaa6-e9f1cccc728d" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2025257031402139974" social-type="twitter" /][p]World number five Pegula quickly built a 3-0 lead in the first set as she kept Ukrainian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Svitolina[/a] near the baseline before getting the first break with a backhand cross-court shot and holding her own serve with a masterful backhand slice.[/p][p]Svitolina's attempt to bounce back ended when former US Open finalist Pegula saved two break points to go 5-1 up. A frustrated Svitolina, who had won all four of her previous WTA 1000 finals, netted a forehand as Pegula took the set.[/p][embed guid="01f08a45-7f7d-4d72-92dc-b57bafbe599d" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8N7tGMhsQA" social-type="youtube" /][p]Pegula was measured in the second set as she got a decisive break in the fifth game, and she won the match with an ace to secure her 10th title on the tour.[/p][p]"[b]Speechless after that fight. I was really trying to put myself out there, and I was playing like there is no tomorrow, just trying to put all the effort in[/b]," Pegula said.[/p]