Sabalenka Advances in Miami; Fils Edges Paul in Thriller
In an exciting day at the Miami Open, world number one Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Elena Rybakina have secured their spots in a highly-anticipated semi-final matchup. Sabalenka, the defending champion, demonstrated her skills on the court by defeating the 45th-ranked American Hailey Baptiste with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Meanwhile, Rybakina overcame the fifth-seeded American Jessica Pegula—who was the runner-up to Sabalenka in the previous year’s event—winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The two players will clash on Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, with both aspiring for a place in the prestigious final of this elite ATP and WTA tournament. Previously, Rybakina triumphed over Sabalenka in a tense final at the Australian Open in January, marking the only defeat for the Belarusian player in 2026. However, Sabalenka avenged that loss this month with a victory at the Indian Wells final.
Expressing her excitement over the upcoming match, Sabalenka stated to the Tennis Channel, “We’ve been playing a lot of matches, recently actually, and all of them have been a battle, all of them been a show. I’m super-excited facing her.” She is now just two victories away from achieving the coveted “Sunshine Double” after her wins at both Indian Wells and Miami.
Baptiste, in her first WTA 1000 quarter-final, struggled to capitalize on three break points during Sabalenka’s initial service games. The Belarusian managed to gain the upper hand when Baptiste double-faulted at a crucial moment. In the second set, although Sabalenka secured an early break, Baptiste fought back to level the score at 4-4. However, her hopes evaporated as she struggled with her serve, opening with three consecutive double faults while serving to stay in the match. Sabalenka seized the opportunity, closing out the match with a powerful return on her second match point.
Reflecting on her performance, Sabalenka remarked, “She really pushed me… 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.” Now, she faces Rybakina, who has shown consistent form against Pegula, marking her fifth consecutive victory over the American, which includes recent wins in both the Australian Open semi-finals and the quarter-finals at Indian Wells.
Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion hailing from Kazakhstan, showcased her powerful game by registering 12 aces against Pegula, asserting her dominance in their ongoing rivalry. Although Pegula began the match with an impressive 4-0 lead, Rybakina rebounded by intensifying her performance to secure a spot in the semi-finals after two hours and 15 minutes of play. “It’s always very difficult matches with Jessica,” Rybakina remarked, emphasizing the challenge posed by her opponent.
Fils Survives Nail-Biting Encounter Against Paul
In the men’s draw, 28th-seeded Arthur Fils from France delivered a remarkable performance, saving four match points to secure a thrilling 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 7-6(6) victory over the 22nd-seeded American Tommy Paul. The match was a test of endurance, with Fils trailing 6-2 in the third-set tiebreaker before making a stunning comeback over a grueling two hours and 49 minutes.
After the match, Fils reflected on the challenge, stating, “It was a dog fight and I never back down from a fight. Even if I lose, it’s OK, I just fought the best that I could. That’s the best result I’ve had in my life so far.” For the first time, the 21-year-old has reached the semi-finals of an ATP Masters 1000 event, where he is set to compete against the 21st-seeded Czech player Jiri Lehecka.
Lehecka continued his impressive run by defeating qualifier Martin Landaluce, ranked 151st, with a score of 7-6(1), 7-5, eliminating Landaluce from the tournament. The stage is set for an exciting semi-final round, showcasing some of the top talents in tennis at the Miami Open.
