"I Did Everything Right" – Sabalenka Reaches in Final After Dismantling Rybakina in High-Stakes Miami Clash

World number one Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the Miami Open final on Thursday, defeating second-ranked Elena Rybakina 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals. The victory keeps her bid for the “Sunshine Double,” following her Indian Wells triumph earlier this month, alive.

Sabalenka broke Rybakina twice in each set and produced nine aces, including four consecutive aces across the seventh and ninth games of the opening set. “I think I did everything right,” Sabalenka said 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 Belarusian had previously lost to Rybakina in the Australian Open final but reversed the result at Indian Wells, where she saved a match point. On Thursday, she seized control early, breaking for a 3-1 lead in the first set. Rybakina immediately broke back, but Sabalenka secured the set with a second break and dominated the second set after taking a 2-0 lead. Rybakina fought back to make it 4-1 but could not recover, with Sabalenka closing out the match on her own serve.

The semi-final marked a rare encounter between the top two ranked players outside the WTA Finals, the first since Martina Hingis and Jana Novotna met in the 1998 US Open semi-finals. The matchup was possible because Rybakina was seeded third, despite rising to the second spot in the rankings just after the Miami draw.

Sabalenka will now face Coco Gauff in the title clash, aiming to secure back-to-back victories at Indian Wells and Miami.