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Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina reach the semi-final of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium after defeating Hailey Baptiste and Jessica Pegula, renewing their fierce rivalry.
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will meet in the semifinals of the Miami Open (AP)
World number one Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Elena Rybakina put together a blockbuster semi-final at the Miami Open on Wednesday.
Defending champion Sabalenka defeated 45th-ranked American Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-4, while Rybakina defeated fifth-seeded American Jessica Pegula, runner-up to Sabalenka last year, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
They will return to Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday night to fight for a place in the final of the elite ATP and WTA event.
Rybakina beat Sabalenka in a thrilling Australian Open final in January (the world number one’s only loss in 2026), but the Belarusian avenged that loss with a win in the Indian Wells final this month.
“We’ve been playing a lot of matches recently, and they’ve all been a battle, they’ve all been a spectacle,” Sabalenka told the Tennis Channel. “I’m super excited to face her.”
Sabalenka is now two wins away from completing the “Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami.
Baptiste, playing in her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal, failed to convert three break points in Sabalenka’s first two service games.
Sabalenka finally broke Baptiste’s serve when the American double-faulted on set point.
Sabalenka got an early break in the second set, but Baptiste recovered and held confidently to level the score at 4-4.
Serving 4-5 to stay in the match, the American opened with three double faults in a row. Sabalenka pounced and converted her second match point with a blistering return.
“She really pushed me,” Sabalenka said.
“The pace, the power of his shots is incredible. I’m very happy that I was able to withstand the pressure and get the victory.”
Renewing the rivalry!
She will now face a familiar foe in Rybakina, who shrugged off a slow start to claim her fifth straight victory over Pegula, a streak that includes a semi-final victory at the Australian Open and a quarter-final victory at Indian Wells.
Pegula, who won the WTA title last month in Dubai, broke twice to take a 4-0 lead and took the first set in 35 minutes.
But Rybakina began to find her rhythm and broke to take a 4-2 lead en route to forcing a third set, then took control of the decider with an early break.
“They are always very difficult matches with Jessica,” said Rybakina, seeded third despite rising to world No. 2 for the first time this week.
“She started playing well and I was a little rushed and frustrated, but I’m happy that I managed to recover and turn it around in the second set.”
(With contributions from Agencies)
March 26, 2026, 08:21 IST
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