MIAMI: Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, the two top women's players in the world, will battle it out in a Miami Open semifinal on Thursday after coming through their quarterfinal matches.
World number one Sabalenka took down American Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday and is looking to complete the coveted 'Sunshine Double' after her triumph in the Indian Wells final over fellow big-hitter Rybakina.
"It's definitely going to be a battle," Sabalenka said in an on-court interview. "It's always a battle, always a fight, always a challenge."
"We push each other to the limit and we always bring the best tennis... These are the matches where I get better as a player."
With the win, the defending champion from Belarus improved to 21-1 for the year. She also holds a 9-7 edge over Rybakina in their career meetings.
RYBAKINA RALLIES
Earlier in the day, Rybakina rallied from a set down to beat Jessica Pegula 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in their quarterfinal to reach the Miami Open last four for the third time. It was her fifth consecutive win over the American, following victories this season at the Australian Open and Indian Wells.
"It's always very difficult matches with Jessica," Rybakina said in her on-court interview. "She started playing well, and I was a bit rushing and frustrated, but I'm happy that I managed to bounce back and turn it around in the second set.
"Couple times I got lucky. I was trying to come a little bit more to the net. Jessica plays very fast and sometimes short, so it was not easy to just stay back I had to adapt a little bit."
Thursday's other semifinal will see American Coco Gauff take on Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic for a place in the final of the WTA 1000 event.
FILS TOPS PAUL
In the men's draw, 28th-seeded Arthur Fils of France saved four match points on the way to a 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (8/6) victory over 22nd-seeded American Tommy Paul.
Fils trailed 6-2 in the third-set tiebreaker, saving four straight match points before prevailing in two hours and 49 minutes.
"It was a dog fight and I never back down from a fight," Fils said. "Even if I lose, it's OK, I just fought the best that I could.
"That's the best result I've had in my life so far," the 21-year-old added.
He reached the semifinals of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time, where he'll face 21st-seeded Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Fils beat Lehecka in the quarterfinals in Doha last month.
Lehecka ended the dream run of qualifier Martin Landaluce, beating the 151st-ranked Spaniard 7-6 (7/1), 7-5. — AFP
ATP/WTA Miami Open results
Men (quarterfinals)
Jiri Lehecka (CZE x21) bt Martin Landaluce (ESP) 7-6 (7/1), 7-5; Arthur Fils (FRA x28) bt Tommy Paul (USA x22) 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (8/6)
Women (quarterfinals)
Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x1) bt Hailey Baptiste (USA) 6-4, 6-4; Elena Rybakina (KAZ x3) bt Jessica Pegula (USA x5) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
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