New Delhi: Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina 6-4, 6-3 to book a Miami Open final against Coco Gauff. The Belarusian is aiming to become the fifth woman to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’ after her title win at Indian Wells.
The world number one took full advantage of the series of errors made by Rybakina to win the opening set, and the four-time Grand Slam winner then raced 4-0 ahead in the second.
Rybakina, who defeated the Belarusian in the Australian Open final, made a comeback in the match, but Sabalenka shut the door to register a comfortable win.
“I really enjoy our rivalry.ssssss an incredible player. I think I did everything right, she played great, but I think I pushed her so much,” said Sabalenka.
Defending champ is BACK 🌟@SabalenkaA def. Rybakina to advance to the final!
Keep an eye out for more @PIF_en Match Point Moments tomorrow!#MiamiOpen | #PIF pic.twitter.com/JEg1oxOm3l
— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 27, 2026
Coco Gauff crushes Karolina Muchova
Gauff delivered a dominating performance to beat Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinal to book her spot in the sixth WTA 1000 final.
She made a slow start as Muchova broke immediately to take the opening game, but Gauff responded brilliantly and won the remaining games to close out the first set.
Muchova was in sensational form coming into the match, having won the title in Doha earlier this season before beating Victoria Mboko, in a rematch of that Doha final, in the Miami quarter-finals.
But, she made flurry of unforced errors in the second set, with the American breaking three times to complete a dominant victory. She also extended her perfect head-to-head record to six victories against Muchova.
Coco Gauff will face Aryna Sabalenka in their 13th career meeting on Saturday. The duo had won six matches each in the previous 12 meetings. Gauff also beat Sabalenka in last year’s French Open final, but the Belarusian registered a victory in their most recent meeting at the WTA Finals.