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Tauson edges Muchova in Dubai to reach first WTA 1000 final

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20 hoursTennis

Clara Tauson reached the final of a WTA 1000 competition for the first time in her career after outlasting Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The Dane pushed the world number 17 all the way to prevail 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 in just under three hours on Friday.

Tauson, who had already knocked out Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, continued her strong start to the season and came out of the blocks quickly in this match, earning a break in the first game.

Though Muchova fought back to level the score at 4-4 in the first set, Tauson flipped the script by going a break up again in the next game before serving to love to take the lead.

There was little to split the pair in the second set, with each player successfully defending the break point they faced before Muchova finally gained the advantage in the tie-break.

The Czech's energy waned as the marathon match continued, and despite getting the first break, she then gave up two of her own. Muchova then managed to hold off the first match point but could not do the same with the second.

Data Debrief: First time for everything

Tauson will not be the only new face in a WTA 1000 final on Saturday, with Mirra Andreeva also making her first appearance in one after upsetting Elena Rybakina earlier on Friday.

In fact, the final in Dubai 2025 will have the youngest combined age of two finalists in a WTA 1000 event since the format's introduction in 2009 (39 years and 351 days, at the start of the tournament).

Tauson is playing in her second final of the 2025 season, having also won the ASB Classic in January after Naomi Osaka retired from the final.

It was the third time this week that Tauson beat a current or former top 10 player, having also knocked out former Dubai champion Elina Svitolina before breezing past Sabalenka.