Miami Gardens, USA: World number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Elena Rybakina in a high-profile Miami Open semi-final on Thursday after both players came through their quarter-final matches.
Sabalenka, the defending champion, beat American Hailey Baptiste 6-4 6-4 to continue her strong run of form and move closer to completing the “Sunshine Double” following her Indian Wells title.
“It’s definitely going to be a battle,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview. “It’s always a battle, always a fight, always a challenge.
“We push each other to the limit and we always bring the best tennis… These are the matches where I get better as a player.”
The Belarusian improved her record for the season to 21-1 and holds a 9-7 advantage over Rybakina in their previous meetings.
Rybakina earlier fought back from a set down to defeat American Jessica Pegula 2-6 6-3 6-4 and reach the Miami semi-finals for the third time.
“It’s always very difficult matches with Jessica,” Rybakina said. “She started playing well, and I was a bit rushing and frustrated, but I’m happy that I managed to bounce back and turn it around in the second set.”
Rybakina has now won five consecutive matches against Pegula, including earlier victories this season at the Australian Open and Indian Wells.
In the other semi-final, American Coco Gauff will take on Czech Karolina Muchova.
