Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Anisimova to claim first ever win over Pegula

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Thu 19 Feb 2026 22:36

Andrew Hendrie 19 Feb 2026

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Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova predictions for Friday's WTA Dubai semi-final
Anisimova tipped to secure first win over Pegula in five attempts
Pegula has lost five of her last six semi-finals & has negative record vs top 10 in her last 17 outings
The match is scheduled to start around 12.00am AEDT on Saturday February 21

Expired

Amanda Anisimova (Photo by Getty Images)

Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

It's an all-American showdown in the Dubai Tennis Championships semi-finals on Friday as Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova square off for the fifth time.

Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Pegula vs Anisimova Stats & Trends
Pegula vs Anisimova Head To Head
Jessica Pegula Form Analysis
Amanda Anisimova Form Analysis
Pegula vs Anisimova Live Stream

Pegula has won all four previous meetings between the pair, including a straight sets triumph at last month's Australian Open. Pegula has been in great form dating back to the end of last year, but she's got a poor record in recent semi-final outings and I think Anisimova represents good value as the underdog to secure her first victory over her countrywoman.

Anisimova is coming off a stirring three-set triumph over defending champion Mirra Andreeva and unlike Pegula, has a tremendous recent record in semi-finals, winning four of her last five - with that one defeat coming against Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals. Anisimova has also won nine of her last 13 matches against top 10 opponents. Pegula is always so tough to outlast, but she does have a ceiling and can often come unstuck at the business end of big tournaments against elite opponents. I think Anisimova is worth the punt here.

Pegula vs Anisimova Stats & Trends

Pegula has lost five of her last six semi-finals
Pegula has lost 10 of her last 17 matches vs top 10 opponents
Anisimova has won nine of her last 13 matches vs top 10 players
Anisimova has won four of her last five semi-finals
Two of the last three meetings between the pair have seen Over 21.5 games
Four of Anisimova's last six matches vs top 10 players have seen Over 21.5 games
Five of Pegula's last eight matches vs top 10 players have seen Over 21.5 games

Pegula vs Anisimova Head To Head

Pegula leads 4-0, including winning last month's Australian Open quarter-final.

Year	Tournament	Round	Surface	Winner	Score
2026	Australian Open	Quarterfinal	Hard	Jessica Pegula	6–2, 7–6(1)
2024	National Bank Open (Toronto)	Final	Hard	Jessica Pegula	6–3, 2–6, 6–1
2024	Credit One Charleston Open	Round of 16	Clay	Jessica Pegula	7–6(7), 6–4
2020	Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati)	Round of 32	Hard	Jessica Pegula	6–2, 6–0

Jessica Pegula Form Analysis

2026 Record: 11-2
WTA Dubai Record: 10-4
Current Ranking: No. 5
Career-High Ranking: No. 3 (2022)

It's been a great start to the season for Pegula.

The American has won 11 of her 13 matches, reaching the semi-finals in all three tournaments at Brisbane, the Australian Open and now Dubai.

However, Pegula was beaten in straight sets in both of those semi-finals, going down 6-0 6-3 to Marta Kostyuk in Brisbane and 6-3 7-6 to eventual champion Elena Rybakina in Melbourne.

Pegula opted to skip Doha last week and arrived fresh and ready to go in Dubai, advancing to the final four with wins over Varvara Gracheva (6-4 6-0), Iva Jovic (6-4 6-2) and Clara Tauson (6-3 2-6 6-4).

Amanda Anisimova Form Analysis

2026 Record: 7-3
WTA Dubai Record: 4-5
Current Ranking: No. 6
Career-High Ranking: No. 3 (Jan 2026)

After a brilliant back-half of 2025, which saw her make Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, Anisimova would probably be disappointed with how her summer of tennis went in Australia.

Anisimova went out in the second round of Brisbane to Marta Kostyuk and was eliminated by Pegula in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

The American decided to play Doha last week, but was forced to retire trailing 4-1 in the third set in her opening match against Karolina Pliskova.

Anisimova received a bye in the first round and walkover in the second round to start in Dubai before crushing Janice Tjen 6-1 6-3. The 24-year-old then recovered from a set and 0-2 down to outlast defending champion Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(4), converting her fourth match point in two hours and 38 minutes.

Both players were emotional after the match, with Andreeva in tears after her title defence came to an end.

"It was such a tough battle, and I thought we played incredible tennis," Anisimova said after the match.

"Seeing Mirra down like that, it's understandable. We both fought so hard today, and it made me emotional seeing her like that. She was playing so well, she's the defending champion and I feel like we both won on the court today. These type of matches, it's always tough that someone has to lose at the end of the day."