Entering Indian Wells, Aryna Sabalenka had lost back-to-back big finals to Elena Rybakina. Now, after the World No. 1 defeated the World No. 2 6-4, 6-3 in 1 hour and 19 minutes on Thursday night in Miami, she has once again flipped the rivalry’s momentum in her favor and moved one win away from the coveted Sunshine Double.
Miami: Scores | Draws | Order of play
The win — her 10th in their tour-leading 17 WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz meetings — sends her to the final, where another prominent rival, Coco Gauff, awaits. In their head-to-head, Sabalenka and Gauff are level at six wins apiece.
Sabalenka is the first player to reach consecutive Miami Open finals since Rybakina in 2023 and 2024, and the first to do so as World No. 1 since Serena Williams from 2013 to 2015.
If she wants to go one step further and claim back-to-back titles at the event, Sabalenka will look to replicate what she did against Rybakina: turn a highly anticipated blockbuster into a commanding victory.
More to come…
