Jessica Pegula hilariously struggles to get Coach Mark Knowles attention after WTA 1000 Dubai win

Jessica Pegula needed 73 minutes to defeat Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 in the Dubai Duty Free Championships WTA 1000 final on Saturday.

Pegula played flawless tennis from start to finish. The jubilant Pegula jogged over to the area where her coach Mark Knowles was sitting. Knowles was on his phone, and she had to get his attention for a congratulatory hug.

MORE: Alex Eala is not on initial Indian Wells doubles players list

The Dubai tournament was the survival of the fittest with Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek withdrawing prior to the start. Australian Open Elena Rybakina retired during an early round match due to illness.

Svitolina, the two-time Dubai champion, seemed fatigued after a 3 hour battle with Coco Gauff yesterday.

Jessica Pegula’s resume keeps growing

With the win, Pegula records her 10th WTA singles title win; four of those are WTA 1000 tournament victories. She joins Venus Williams, Madison Keys, and Coco Gauff as the American women with double digit career wins.

She also joins Venus Williams and Lindsey Davenport as the only three Americans to win in Dubai since its inception in 1993.

MORE: Venus Williams accepts wildcard to play at Indian Wells, a tournament she once boycotted

Pegula has also reached the semifinals or further in every tournament she has entered since last year’s US Open. She has two losses on the season to Marta Kostyuk in Brisbane and Rybakina at the Australian Open.

An early birthday present for Pegula

Pegula will turn 32 on February 24. When asked how she will celebrate the Dubai win, she said with a long flight home.

Though plagued with injuries early in her career and considered a late bloomer, Jessica Pegula is coming into her own with a better serve and improved fitness in recent years.

Pegula will head to Indian Wells with a lot of confidence and momentum. She will try to achieve what Mirra Andreeva did in 2025, winning Dubai and Indian Wells within a few weeks time.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 20

NFL: Predicting the 2026 NFL free agent signings

MLB: Detroit Tigers drop unreal alternate jerseys for 2026 MLB season

NBA: Charlotte Hornets share update after LaMelo Ball’s car crash

NHL: 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey, NHL payrolls for final four teams

SPORTS MEDIA: Olympics reporter apologizes for drinking, slurring words during live segment

The post Jessica Pegula hilariously struggles to get Coach Mark Knowles attention after WTA 1000 Dubai win appeared first on The Big Lead.