Tennis
Sabalenka gets past Rybakina, one win away from the coveted Sunshine Double
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka beat back the challenge posed by Elena Rybakina with a 6-4, 6-3 victory in 1 hour and 19 minutes on Thursday night to move one win away from the coveted Sunshine Double.
The win, Sabalenka’s 10th in their tour-leading 17 WTA Tour, sends her to a second straight final in Miami, where another prominent rival, Coco Gauff, awaits. In their head-to-head, Sabalenka and Gauff are level at six wins apiece.
Sabalenka is the fourth player this century to reach the final at her first four WTA events of a season, joining Martina Hingis (2001), Serena Williams (2003) and Victoria Azarenka (2012).
Sabalenka is the first player to reach consecutive Miami Open finals since Rybakina in 2023 and 2024, and the first to do so as World No. 1 since Serena Williams from 2013 to 2015.
“I really enjoy our rivalry,” Sabalenka said of Rybakina in her on-court interview. “She’s an incredible player, always pushing me to the limit, and you know, with her, you always have to bring your best tennis.
“I think I did everything right, and she played great, but I think I pushed her so much and I’m proud of this win. It’s always tough physically, mentally, and I’m happy to get another win against her.”
If she wants to go one step further and claim back-to-back titles at the event, while becoming the first player to complete the Sunshine Double since Iga Swiatek in 2022, Sabalenka will look to replicate what she did against Rybakina: turn a highly anticipated blockbuster into a commanding victory.
Sabalenka advanced to final without dropping a set
Sabalenka advanced to the final without dropping a set, and at no point on Thursday did she appear to be in danger. She flew through her early service games while forcing Rybakina to grind out holds.
The World No. 1 broke early for a 3-1 lead, and after Rybakina responded to get back on serve, Sabalenka did what she did to Hailey Baptiste in Wednesday’s quarterfinal when she broke again to steal the opening set, sealing it with a forehand winner.
In the second set, the grind of the past few weeks seemed to catch up to Rybakina as her level dipped slightly, leaving Sabalenka to pounce. In a flash, Sabalenka raced ahead 4-0, and despite a brief push from Rybakina, she closed out her heated rival in straight sets with another forehand winner.
It was a thorough performance from the defending champion. She served well, ripping nine aces and winning 83% of first-serve points; returned well, generating eight break points and converting four against Rybakina’s powerful serve; and struck the ball cleanly, particularly off the forehand wing. The result marks her 21st win of the season, the most on tour, surpassing Rybakina.
A win against Gauff would give her a third title of this young season, following triumphs in Brisbane and Indian Wells, and she enters the final knowing exactly what to expect in her battle with the Florida native.
“A lot of rallies, a lot of emotions, a lot of aggression, a lot of fun,” Sabalenka said. “It’s going to be a battle and I’m super excited to play her in another final.”
Gauff downs Muchova in a masterclass performance
World No. 4 Gauff defeated No. 13 seed Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-1 in a masterclass performance.
After conceding an early break, Gauff went on to win 12 of the final 13 games to secure the win in one hour and 20 minutes, highlighted by her six breaks of Muchova’s serve. She’s now undefeated against the Czech in six matches and twice in 2026.
Gauff has faced Sabalenka 12 times, most recently at the Madrid final, Roland Garros final and WTA Finals Riyadh group stage all in 2025, with the American winning in France.
In her last three matches, Muchova was broken just once and faced just two break points combined in her previous matches against Victoria Mboko and Alexandra Eala.
Coco Gauff became the youngest American to reach the Miami Open final since Serena Williams in 2003. Pic: USOpen.org
On Thursday, she didn’t hold a single service game in the opening set, and not until she was down 1-4 in the second set. Statistically, Muchova won just 51% of her first service points and 20% of her second service points.
Muchova had her chance in each of them, as four of her five service games went to a deuce, but Muchova struggled on her biggest weapon, her forehand, which was the cause of 26 of her total 37 unforced errors. Frequently after Gauff hit more of a lofted ball, Muchova would time her hits at the climax of the bounce, but the ball would sail long out of play.
To Gauff’s credit, she developed the points by targeting Muchova’s backhand frequently, and on occasion, Muchova mid-point would adjust her body positioning to force the shot to her forehand. It just wasn’t Muchova’s day, evident when she flung her racket, put her hands on her knees with her head down, giving Gauff another game point at ad-40 in the second game of the second set. Gauff finished with just 17 winners to 12 unforced errors, capitalizing on 77% of her first service points.
The 22-year-old Gauff dictated many of the points. Up 3-0, 30-15, she swung Muchova back and forth across the baseline, setting up a cross-court forehand winner, and on game point, she strategically mixed in a high-arching shot to reset herself and create space for a winner.
Muchova’s day was summarized best, when down a set and four games to love tied at 15-all, she had come to the net after an outstretched Gauff lofted the ball to keep the ball in play. But on the overhead volley, Muchova smashed it straight to Gauff, who unexpected it, and Gauff’s hit just grazed the sideline.
The Czech eventually stopped the streak of 10 consecutive games with her lone hold of the game, but that would be the last high for Muchova, as Gauff became the youngest American to reach the Miami Open final since Serena Williams in 2003.