Aryna Sabalenka is set to meet Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals of the Miami Open. Sabalenka booked her spot after a victory over Hailey Baptiste. Coco Gauff will face Karolina Muchova in the other semi-final.
Sabalenka’s Road to the Semi-Final
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated American Hailey Baptiste 6-4 6-4. Sabalenka is aiming to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’ after her triumph at Indian Wells against Rybakina. Rybakina reached the semi-finals for the third time after beating Jessica Pegula in three sets.
Sabalenka had to work to overcome the unseeded Baptiste. She survived three break points before securing the opening set. She capitalised on her only break opportunity.
The second set mirrored the first. A forehead return on match point from Sabalenka clinched the crucial break in an hour and 20 minutes.
Rybakina’s Victory Over Pegula
Rybakina won against No 5-seed Jessica Pegula in a match lasting two hours and 15 minutes. The final score was 2-6 6-3 6-4. It was her fifth straight win over the American in the last seven months.
Rybakina acknowledged the difficulty of the match. She noted Pegula’s strong start and her own initial frustration. She was happy to bounce back in the second set.
Rybakina started the match slowly, recording 12 unforced errors in the first set. Pegula cruised to a 4-0 lead early on.
Sabalenka on Facing Rybakina
Sabalenka anticipates a challenging match against Rybakina. She said it’s always a battle and a fight. Sabalenka believes they push each other to the limit, bringing out the best tennis.
She sees these matches as opportunities for personal improvement. Sabalenka leads the head to head 9-7. They’re 1-1 this season.
- Sabalenka won their most recent meeting at Indian Wells
- Rybakina won in the Australian Open final
Sabalenka has improved to 21-1 for the year.
Watch the Miami Open live on Sky Sports.