World number 7 Elena Rybakina beat world number 3 Jessica Pegula 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to reach her second consecutive final at the Miami Open. The Kazakh player moves one win of becoming the fifth player to win back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami completing the Sunshine Double.
Rybakina leads the WTA Tour in match wins in 2023 with a record of 21 wins to just 3 defeats.
Rybakina needed three sets in her first two matches of the tournament and saved a match point against Paula Badosa before beating Elise Mertens, Martina Trevisan and Jessica Pegula in straight sets.
Pegula broke Rybakina three times and served for the first set twice at 5-4 and 6-5. Rybakina won the final five points from 2-3 down to clinch the tie-break 7-3 improving her perfect record in tie-breaks to 7-0 this season.
After a second rain delay Pegula rallied from 0-40 down to hold serve at deuce. The US player earned a break before consolidating it with a hold of serve for 3-0. Rybakina won four consecutive games from 2-4 down to seal the win after 1 hour and 51 minutes.
“Jessica played really well some moments. It’s not easy to play against her because she keeps the ball really low, and it’s difficult. I was playing today better when I was down. I was doing everything correct”, said Rybakina.
Rybakina is the first player to serve 10 aces or more in five matches in the same tornament since Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2016.
Rybakina will face the winner of the second semifinal between Petra Kvitova and Sorana Cristea.
Kvitova beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 3-6 6-3 after 2 hours and 12 minutes to reach the semifinal at the Miami Open for the first time in her career.
Kvitova earned an early break and close out the first set with an ace on her third set point. Alexandrova hit a backhand crosscourt return to break serve for 4-2 in the sixth game of the second set and held on her serve to draw the match level at one set apiece.
Kvitova saved a break point to hold serve for 4-3 in the third set. The Czech player hit a crosscourt forehand to earn a break for 5-3 and converted her second match point in the next game to seal the win.
“I am glad that my serve helped me in important moments, especially in the third set. The chance for the break came. I took it, and it was very emotional in the end. I am very happy that I found a way to win it”, said Kvitova.