Sara Errani held off a strong challenge to defeat Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-4 and reach her second final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

In a match of long baseline rallies, each player struggled to gain the upper hand. Svitolina saved a break point in the opening game and was then broken for 2-1 when she netted a forehand, but Errani’s lead was short-lived as she double-faulted in the next game to drop her own serve. Svitolina then faced break point for the third straight game but held for 3-2, before Errani broke again at 3-3 on her fifth break point.

Errani was again unable to hold on to her lead as Svitolina levelled at 4-4, but Svitolina in turn dropped her serve for a third time to give Errani a 5-4 lead. This time Errani managed to retain her lead and hold serve to claim the opening set.

Svitolina continued to struggle in her service games in the second set, fighting off two break points to hold for 1-0, breaking for 3-1 but then allowing Errani to immediately break back and then break again to lead 4-3. In the closest of battles, Errani then had to recover from 0-30 as she closed out the match.

Errani will face either Barbora Strycova in Saturday’s final.