World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has reached her first Miami Open final, dominating Jasmina Paolini with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Sabalenka, who lives in South Florida, expressed her comfort playing in Miami. She overcame No. 9 seed Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals and continued her winning streak against Paolini, never losing a set in their three encounters.
Sabalenka`s strong performance included six aces and four breaks of serve, securing her spot in the final in just 1 hour and 11 minutes. She is the sixth player in 20 years to reach the finals of both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season, joining a list of tennis stars.
Reflecting on her victory, Sabalenka described it as one of her best matches this season, emphasizing her focus and feeling “in the zone.”
Pegula Overcomes Eala in Thrilling Match
In the evening match, Jessica Pegula battled for 2 hours and 26 minutes to defeat Alexandra Eala. Pegula rallied from 5-2 down in the first set to win it in a tiebreak. Eala fought back to take the second set, but Pegula ultimately prevailed 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3.
The match concluded after midnight, showcasing Eala`s resilience as she came back from a set and a break down. Despite a tight third set, Pegula secured the crucial break in the final games.
Pegula acknowledged Eala`s talent and strong performance, recognizing her wins against top players earlier in the tournament.
Looking ahead to the final against Sabalenka, Pegula faces a 2-6 head-to-head record. She aims to improve her serve and capitalize on opportunities, recalling close sets against Sabalenka in previous finals.
Pegula believes her improved serve will be key in the final against Sabalenka`s strong return game. She is prepared for an aggressive match and hopes to learn from their past encounters, particularly the US Open final where she had set point opportunities.
