Sabalenka and Rybakina to clash again in Miami semi-final
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan celebrates after defeating Jessica Pegula of the United States to reach the WTA Miami Open semi-finals (Rich Storry) World number one Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Elena Rybakina on Wednesday booked a blockbuster semi-final at the Miami Open. Defending champion Sabalenka held off big-hitting 45th-ranked American Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-4 while Rybakina beat fifth-seeded American Jessica Pegula -- runner-up to Sabalenka last year -- 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. They will return Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium -- home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins -- to fight for a place in the final of the elite ATP and WTA event.
Rybakina beat Sabalenka in a nail-biting Australian Open final in January -- the world number one's only defeat in 2026 -- but the Belarusian avenged it with a victory in the Indian Wells final this month. "We've been playing a lot of matches, recently actually, and all of them have been a battle, all of them been a show," Sabalenka told the Tennis Channel. "I'm super-excited facing her.
" Sabalenka is now two wins away from completing the "Sunshine Double" of Indian Wells and Miami. Baptiste, playing her first WTA 1000 quarter-final, failed to convert three break points in Sabalenka's first two service games. Sabalenka finally broke Baptiste when the American double-faulted on set point.
Sabalenka gained an early break in the second, but Baptiste broke back and held confidently to level at 4-4. But as she served at 4-5 to stay in the match, the American opened with three straight double faults. Sabalenka pounced, converting her second match point with a blistering return.
- Familiar foes - "She really pushed me," Sabalenka said. "The rhythm, the heaviness of her shots is incredible. I'm super happy that I was able to hold the pressure and to get the win.