Sabalenka's effortless sweep of Rybakina was surprising, while Gauff served up a double bagel to advance to the final.

Following her victory over Baptiste in the Miami Open quarterfinals, Sabalenka remarked that, on a 10-point scale, her current condition is at a "good 8," even though she has achieved ten straight wins this spring, there remains potential for further enhancement.

On Thursday night local time, she dominated from start to finish in the semifinal, overcoming her primary opponent, world No. 2 Rybakina, with a display that surpassed expectations. Sabalenka won 6-4, 6-3, during which she once secured six consecutive games. This marks her 10th victory in 17 career encounters against Rybakina, but only the second time she has clinched the win in straight sets.

This match represents Sabalenka's finest performance in the tournament so far, and the reasons are evident. The top seed showcased a comprehensive arsenal of skills, not only delivering powerful attacks but also excelling particularly in serving during crucial points, advancing to the Miami Open final for the second consecutive year.

After the match, the world No. 1 admitted that less than two weeks ago, she saved a match point to reverse Rybakina at the Paris Bank Open, and in this rematch, she believes she "did everything comprehensively" to win again. "I truly enjoy our rivalry. She is an outstanding player who always pushes me to my limits. Against her, you must bring your best level, which is also why I was able to produce such excellent tennis today."

"She performed brilliantly, but I also applied immense pressure, so I am proud of this victory," Sabalenka added. "Such duels are exceptionally tough both physically and mentally. I am delighted to defeat her once more."

The 27-year-old Sabalenka will face another formidable opponent in the final—third seed Gauff. They have split their 12 career meetings with six wins each, but Gauff holds a 2-1 advantage in final encounters.

Gauff expressed that her desire for this championship is no less than for a Grand Slam; for this native of Delray Beach, Florida, the Miami Open is essentially a home event. Sabalenka, meanwhile, aims to become the fifth female player in the Open Era to consecutively win the Indian Wells and Miami titles. "There will be many extended rallies, many emotional clashes, many attacking exchanges, and it will be full of fun," Sabalenka said when previewing the match. "It will be a tough battle, and I am incredibly eager to face her again in the final."

Earlier, world No. 4 Gauff delivered a masterful performance, defeating 13th seed Muchova 6-1, 6-1, marking her sixth career entry into a WTA 1000-level final. After suffering an early break, Gauff captured 12 of the next 13 games, sealing the win in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Highlighting the match was her six breaks of Muchova's serve. She holds a perfect 6-0 record against this Czech player, including two victories in the 2026 season.

Discussing her start to the season, Gauff stated at the press conference: "I've played several tough matches this year, but overall my form is better than last year. I think this stems from continuously refining my technique and striving to make my play more stable. I can feel myself improving—especially in the forehand department. My forehand performance in this tournament has satisfied me. I've said before that I've been training excellently, just waiting for my form to fully erupt. Obviously, it hasn't reached its peak yet, but I feel my condition is gradually warming up."Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark