Aryna Sabalenka is through to a second straight Miami Open final after brushing aside Elena Rybakina with a dominant straight-sets victory.
It was the latest
clash in a thrilling rivalry between the pair, but Sabalenka - having also triumphed in the Indian Wells final against the Kazakh - earned a 6-4 6-3 win in 80 minutes to keep her title defence alive.
Sabalenka had taken an early lead, going 3-1 up, but Rybakina hit straight back with a break of her own to level things once more at 3-3.
However, the world number one remained in control and got another vital break in game 10 to take the first set.
Sabalenka then broke twice as she reeled off the first four games of the second.
Though Rybakina got one break back and later held off a match point to force Sabalenka to serve it out at 5-3, the Belarusian did so to love and booked a meeting with Coco Gauff in the Miami showpiece.
BACK AT IT
— wta (@WTA) March 27, 2026
The defend finals!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/Wu9iAhQL5B
"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. "
Sabalenka faces another tough test in Gauff, with the pair evenly matched in their head-to-head record, with six wins apiece ahead of their clash on Saturday.
Data Debrief: Sabalenka adds another final to her collection
Sabalenka (2025-2026) is the second player to reach both finals at the 'Sunshine Double' (Indian Wells and Miami) in consecutive years, after Maria Sharapova (2012-2013), since both tournaments were calendarised in 1989.
She is also the third player since 1989 to win their first five semi-finals at the Sunshine Double, after Monica Seles and Serena Williams.
It has been a stellar 2026 for Sabalenka so far, and she is the fourth player this century to reach the final at her first four WTA-level events of a season after Martina Hingis (2001), Williams (2003) and Victoria Azarenka (2012).
From her three showpiece appearances so far, Sabalenka has only lost the Australian Open final, which was against Rybakina.
