Rybakina thrills in the early final with Sabalenka at the Miami Open: “I want to play against the best”

Elena Rybakina looks unstoppable in the 2026 season. Australian Open champion and recent Indian Wells finalist, the Kazakh, currently ranked second in the WTA ranking, She made it into the top four at the Miami Open after beating the American Jessica Pegula (5th) in three sets and on the horizon he sees a new confrontation with Aryna Sabalenkaleader of the organization.

The Moscow-born, who displaced the Polish Iga Swiatek (3rd) in the rankings but still plays in the Florida tournament as third seed, is perhaps the most reliable player at the moment and the results prove it. Together with the Belarusian they formed a new tennis classic and, again, as in Melbourne and California, faces could be seen. This time in the semifinals, but with the feeling of being a early ending.

The winner of Wimbledon 2022, always with a cool head and her feet on the ground, spoke about the possible duel with Sabalenka, whom she beat in the first Major of the season and with whom she lost in the Coachella Valley, and maintained that she would not face this commitment thinking about a rematch. “I don’t take it as revenge, I simply want to play against the best. Leaving the field satisfied with what I did and with small improvements is the most important thing“said Stefano Vukov’s pupil just after finishing the victory against the New Yorker, whom she defeated for the third time this year.

Likewise, the powerful right-hander, 26 years old, recalled what the last precedent between them was like. “We had many opportunities and the third set was like roulette“, she stated. On that occasion, the Minsk native took the victory in the tie-breaker of the third set after rescuing a match point against.

The executioner of her compatriot Yulia Putintseva (75th), the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (28th) and the Australian Talia Gibson (68th) in the previous rounds, a finalist in 2023 and 2024 at the WTA 100 in Florida, she is 6-1 against Top Ten players in the season and is seeking the 13th title of her career. He changed his strategy in his duel against Buffalo, came back from a set down and is going for more on American soil.

Meanwhile, Sabalenka, who days ago defined Elena as one of the friendliest people on the circuit, defeated the local Hailey Baptiste (45th) by double 6-4 to star in the 17th duel against each other.

All Miami Open activity can be followed LIVE on Disney+ Premium Plan.