World number one Aryna Sabalenka is through to the Miami Open final after easing past Elena Rybakina 6-4, 6-3 in a blockbuster semi-final on Thursday, setting up a title clash against Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka, who fell to Rybakina in the Australian Open final before turning the tables on the Kazakh in the Indian Wells title match earlier this month, broke the big-serving Rybakina twice in each set to deliver a dominant performance and keep her bid for the coveted “Sunshine Double” firmly on track.
The Belarusian was in ruthless form from the outset, seizing a break for a 3-1 lead in the opening set. Rybakina recouped the break immediately, but Sabalenka broke again to pocket the set and took command in the second with a break for 2-0. Trailing 0-4, Rybakina clawed back a break for 4-1, but Sabalenka wouldn’t flinch, eventually serving out the match with a love game punctuated by a fierce forehand winner.
“I think I did everything right,” said Sabalenka after the match. “She’s an incredible player, always pushes me to the limit. With her, you have to bring your best tennis and that’s why I was able to pull out such great tennis today.”
The match marked the first time outside the WTA Finals that the world’s two top-ranked players met before a final since Martina Hingis and Jana Novotna at the 1998 US Open semi-finals, a testament to just how far above the rest of the field these two have placed themselves in 2026.
Sabalenka will now face Coco Gauff in the final, with Gauff having reached the decider after dismantling Karolina Muchova in the other semi-final.
