Third-seeded Elena Rybakina delivered 15 aces and saved 8 of 10 break points while ousting fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the semifinals of the Miami Open in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Rybakina overcame a shaky start to defeat Pegula for the fifth time in seven months, including in the Australian Open semifinals en route to winning the title in Melbourne.
Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, will face top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in Thursday’s semifinals in a rematch of this year’s Aussie Open final.
Pegula sprinted out of the gates to win the first four games and eventually the first set before Rybakina rallied to win in two hours, 15 minutes.
“It’s always very difficult playing Jessica,” Rybakina said. “She started playing well, and I was rushing and frustrated, but I’m happy that I managed to bounce back and turn it around in the second set.”
Rybakina smashed seven aces in the second set and saved all four break points to even the match. She added five aces in the third set whole closing out the match.
For Pegula, who is 0-3 this year against Rybakina, it was another frustrating outing.
“I’m putting myself right there,” Pegula said. “I’m giving myself the chances and the opportunities, I think I have elevated my game, I’ve become a better player. I am definitely challenging them. … That’s kind of all I can ask of myself and, hopefully, some of the wins will come along.”
Sabalenka had an easier time in her semifinal against unseeded American Hailey Baptiste, advancing with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in 80 minutes. The Belarusian came through in the clutch of each set, breaking when ahead 5-4 in both.
Baptiste had just five double faults but three of them were at the start of her final service game, setting the stage for Sabalenka to slam the door. Sabalenka won 67% of her service points, but just 45% of her return points, including 19% of her first-return points.
The win sets the stage for the 17th all-time matchup between Sabalenka and Rybakina. Sabalenka leads the all-time series 9-7 and won the last time they faced off earlier this month in Indian Wells, but Rybakina won in Melbourne back in January.
“I think it’s definitely going to be a battle,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview. “It’s always a battle, always a fight, always a challenge. And I think we push each other to the limit, and we always bring the best tennis. I hope that it’s really enjoyable for you guys to watch us play and I’m super excited (to be) playing her again.”
No. 4 seed Coco Gauff will oppose 13th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the other semifinal.
–Field Level Media
