Aryna Sabalenka clashes with Elena Rybakina as she reaches the Miami Open semi-finals with a victory over Hailey Baptiste.
World No 1 Sabalenka took down American Baptiste 6-4, 6-4 and is looking to complete the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’ after her triumph in the Indian Wells final over fellow big-hitter Rybakina.
Rybakina reached the semi-finals of the Miami Open for the third time after beating Jessica Pegula over three sets.
Sabalenka was made to work hard by the unseeded American, surviving three break points against her before clinching the opening set by capitalising on her only break opportunity.
The second set followed a similar pattern, a forehead return on match point from Sabalenka, clinching the crucial break in an hour and 20 minutes.
“It’s definitely going to be a battle [against Rybakina],” Sabalenka said in an on-court interview. “It’s always a battle, always a fight, always a challenge.”
“We push each other to the limit, and we always bring the best tennis. These are the matches where I get better as a player.”
