World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka showcased her dominance at the Miami Open, securing her place in the final for the first time. She defeated No. 6 seed Jasmina Paolini with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory on Thursday at Hard Rock Stadium. Sabalenka maintained a flawless serve throughout the match, marking her entry into her 12th career WTA 1000 final.
Miami holds a special significance for Sabalenka, as she resides in South Florida. She mentioned enjoying the comforts of home during the tournament, such as sleeping in her own bed and driving her car. Despite this local advantage, Sabalenka had previously struggled in Miami, only reaching the quarterfinals twice in her six appearances, regardless of whether the tournament was in Key Biscayne or Miami Gardens.
This year marks a breakthrough for Sabalenka in Miami. Following her quarterfinal victory over No. 9 seed Zheng Qinwen (6-2, 7-5), extending her winning streak against the Olympic gold medalist to seven matches, she faced Paolini. This favorable matchup propelled Sabalenka into the final she has long desired. The three-time major champion has now triumphed in her last three encounters with the Italian player, all in straight sets.
Sabalenka was in control from the start against Paolini, with the score only briefly tied at 1-1 in each set. She fired six aces, broke Paolini`s serve four times, and sealed the victory in 1 hour and 11 minutes. She now awaits the winner of the match between No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula and teenage wild card Alexandra Eala from the Philippines for Saturday`s final.
Over the past two decades, Sabalenka joins an elite group of players who have reached the finals at both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. This list includes Kim Clijsters (2005), Maria Sharapova (2006, 2012, 2013), Victoria Azarenka (2016), Iga Swiatek (2022), and Elena Rybakina (2023). Sabalenka recently lost to Mirra Andreeva in the Indian Wells final.
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