Tauson edges Muchova for first WTA 1000 final in Dubai

Two first-time WTA 1000 finalists will square off for the title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday after Denmark's Clara Tauson

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Dubai: Draws | Scores | Order of play 

Tauson, like Andreeva earlier against Elena Rybakina

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Tauson saved three break points at 2-2 in the final set before winning the last three games of the match to reach her second final of the season, having already won the WTA 250 ASB Classic in January when Naomi Osaka

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By beating Muchova in 2 hours and 52 minutes, Tauson earned multiple Top 20 wins at a tournament for the first time in her career. She won the last eight points of the first set after Muchova came from a break down, and later in the third, won the match's last three games. 

Though she hit fewer winners than Muchova in the win, Tauson's came at clutch times. One area where Tauson out-performed Muchova was on break points. She saved seven of nine she faced in the match, including all five she faced in the deciding set.

"It was a great match," Tauson said afterwards. "What can I say? Muchova is such a great player ... I don't know how I won today, but I tried to keep my cool and play some great tennis."

In the youngest final at WTA 1000 level since the tournament format debuted in 2009, Tauson will face Andreeva for the first time.