Elena Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion, continued her remarkable form at the Miami Open by booking her place in the final with a hard-fought victory over world number three Jessica Pegula. In a match disrupted by rain, Rybakina showed her fighting spirit to come from behind and win 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.
The 23-year-old Kazakhstani player is now on course to claim the ‘Sunshine Double’ after winning the Indian Wells title earlier this month. Rybakina, who is ranked seventh in the world, will face the winner of the second semi-final between Petra Kvitova and Sorana Cirstea. With her confidence sky-high and her game firing on all cylinders, Rybakina will be a formidable opponent for whoever she faces in the final.
Despite the rain interruptions and the high number of breaks in the match, Rybakina remained focused and produced a clinical display to secure her spot in the final. The Moscow-born player revealed after the match that the possibility of a third set had pushed her to take a more positive approach.
With back-to-back WTA 1000 finals under her belt, Rybakina will be determined to maintain her momentum and claim another title in Miami. As one of the rising stars of women’s tennis, Rybakina is quickly establishing herself as a major force to be reckoned with and a player to watch out for in the coming years.
