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Aryna Sabalenka beats Elena Rybakina to reach Miami Open final vs Coco Gauff as Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev set up men’s semi in Sunshine Double chase.
Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner at the Miami Open
World number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka subdued second-ranked Elena Rybakina 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday to set up a Miami Open title clash with American Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka, who lost to Rybakina in the Australian Open final before avenging that defeat in the Indian Wells title match earlier this month, broke the big-serving Kazakh twice in each set to prevail in the blockbuster semi-final and keep her bid for the “Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami on track.
Men’s world number two Jannik Sinner, who like Sabalenka claimed his first Indian Wells title two weeks ago, also advanced, dominating American Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 6-2 to reach the men’s semi-finals.
Their victories mean both the ATP and WTA could produce a “Sunshine Double” in the same year for the first time since Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka swept the two prestigious hardcourt tournaments in 2016.
Sabalenka, who had to save a match point in her Indian Wells final win over Rybakina, applied relentless pressure on her opponent’s serve while delivering a superb serving performance of her own, firing nine aces — including four in a row across the seventh and ninth games of the opening set.
“I think I did everything right,” the Belarusian said.
Sabalenka earned the first break for a 3-1 lead in the first set. Rybakina broke back, but Sabalenka responded immediately to take the set, then seized control of the second with a break for 2-0 in a game Rybakina had led 40-0.
Trailing 0-4, Rybakina clawed back one break for 4-1 but Sabalenka did not falter again. Rybakina saved one match point on her own serve before Sabalenka closed it out with a love hold, sealing victory with a fierce forehand winner.
It was one of several commanding performances at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, on Thursday.
Sinner To Face Zverev
Four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner needed just 71 minutes to dismiss Tiafoe and set up a semi-final meeting with fourth-ranked German Alexander Zverev, who swept past 19th-ranked Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 6-2 in only 65 minutes.
Fourth-ranked Gauff, who had required three sets in each of her previous four matches, overwhelmed Czech Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-1 to secure her place in Saturday’s women’s final.
Gauff surrendered a break with a double fault in the opening game against Muchova, then reeled off the next 10 games.
She broke Muchova again to close out the match after 89 minutes, booking her place in the final less than three weeks after she retired from her third-round match at Indian Wells with a nerve issue affecting her left arm.
“I think I feel the improvements are happening — especially with my forehand — I was happy with how it’s been this whole tournament,” Gauff said.
Sinner extended his ATP Masters 1000 set-winning streak to 30, having not dropped a set at that level since last October in Shanghai.
He broke Tiafoe to start the match and never looked back, surrendering just nine points on serve.
Sinner, the 2024 Miami champion, struck 14 aces and 33 winners against 15 unforced errors.
“It was a good serving day for sure,” said Sinner, who is aiming to become the first man to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year since Roger Federer in 2017.
He will face a familiar semi-final opponent in Zverev, having beaten the German in straight sets in the same round at Indian Wells.
“Tomorrow will be the toughest test,” Zverev acknowledged. “I’m looking forward to it.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
March 27, 2026, 09:29 IST
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