Vera Zvonareva has just reached the final in her first tournament of the year after beating 16-year-old rising star Mika Stojsavljevic 6-3 6-7 (4) 6-4 at the W100 (ITF) Dubai.

The 41-year-old Russian, who was out of action since April 2024, claimed two breaks in the first set and saved four break points to take the opener. 

After routinely winning the first set, Zvonareva also started the second set with a 3-0 lead. Down by a set and a break, Stojsavljevic – who is a two-time ITF champion and ranked at No. 342 in the world – refused to quit and managed to force a tie-break. In the tie-break, the 16-year-old Briton went 5-2 up before converting her first set point to send the match into a decider.

Just as she started the second set, Zvonareva also claimed an early break in the third set before Stojsavljevic managed to get it back. However, this time, the 2010 Wimbledon finalist didn’t panic as she earned another break in the seventh game before serving out for the match three games later.

Zvonareva through to her first singles final since 2020

In the Dubal final, the former world No. 2 will take on the winner of the match between Petra Marcinko and Gao Xinyu. For the 41-year-old Russian, it will be her first singles final since she was beaten by Kaia Kanepi in the 2020 ITF Istanbul title match.

41 year old 🇷🇺 Vera Zvonareva defeats 16 year old 🇬🇧 Mika Stojsavljevic 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 to reach the ITF W100 Dubai final.

First singles final since 2020 for the Former world No.2

Also scheduled to play doubles SF later

Zvonareva was ranked 7th in the world when Mika was born😅 pic.twitter.com/Ya2uiTEMDB

— edgeAI (@edgeAIapp) December 6, 2025

Zvonareva is a 12-time WTA champion, while her last singles title came at the ITF Sharm El Sheikh in 2017.