For the third time this year Aryna Sabalenka will lock horns with a player who is quickly becoming her nemesis on the Tour.
The world No.1 moved into the semi-finals of the Miami Open on Wednesday after beating America’s Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-4. Sabalenka, who is spending her 75th week at the top of the WTA rankings, has now won 27 consecutive matches against players ranked outside the top 10. She has become the first female player to reach the semi-finals or better in her first four tournaments of a season since Simona Halep in 2018.
Awaiting Sabalenka in the last four will be Elena Rybakina, who battled back from a set down to beat Jessica Pegula 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, in her quarter-final match. It is the second tournament in a row that the duo have locked horns. Earlier this month, Sabalenka prevailed in a roller-coaster match that ended with a tiebreaker to win Indian Wells. However, Rybakina won their first meeting of 2026 at the Australian Open, where she claimed her second major trophy.
“I don’t feel any difference when playing her in the quarterfinals, in the semis, or in the finals. For me, it’s just an opportunity to become a better player because I know that the matches against her are tough matches,” Sabalenka said of playing the Kazakh.
“These are matches where you have to bring your tennis and you have to actually fight for every point. I’m super excited.
“I would prefer to play when we both reach the finals because I feel that finals are the matches where all of the attention is and it’s the last push.”
Overall, Sabalenka has played Rybakina 16 times on the Tour and has won nine of those meetings. However, since the start of 2025, they have each beaten each other three times.
“I enjoy our rivalry and our battles. I really enjoy it because we both push each other to the limit, and I feel like this kind of match makes me a better player, and this is where I actually grow.” Sabalenka explains.
Elaborating further, the 27-year-old believes their rivalry is more appealing because they are ‘two opposites’ in terms of personalities. She describes herself as ‘emotional and loud’ compared to Rybakina, who she says is more reserved.
As for Rybakina, she is also relishing the upcoming showdown. She has won six out of her seven matches played against top 10 players so far this year. Furthermore, she is currently in the No.1 position on the Race to the WTA Finals Leaderboard and will rise to No.2 in the WTA rankings on Monday.
“I’m just on the path of this consistency for now, this year has been good,” Rybakina told reporters in Miami.
“The season is not even halfway yet and it’s great to play against Aryna. We are always pushing each other.
“It’s going to be another challenge, where I will need to serve well and really take care of my game, knowing that on the other side, she can hit a lot of good shots.”
Sabalenka’s clash with Rybakina is scheduled to be the last night match of the day on Thursday in Miami.
