Sabalenka – Rybakina, the expected clash in the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami: “It will be a battle!”
Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Thursday, 26 March 2026, 12:05 / Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2026 12:05
Aryna Sabalenka (27 years old, WTA number 1) and Elena Rybakina (26 years old, world number 2) will face each other in the penultimate act of the tournament in Miami, after getting past Hailey Baptiste (24 years old, WTA number 45), 6-4, 6-4, respectively Jessica Pegula (32 years old, world number 5), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The most talked about current rivalry in the women's circuit is between the players who currently occupy the top two positions in the world rankings, although its seeds were planted much earlier.
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina they will meet, exceptionally, in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami, because the Kazakh player, favorite 3, occupied this position in the world ranking before the start of the contest.
It will be the second 17th direct dispute between the two, and the Belarusian leads 9-7. In 2026, they shared their success, Elena winning the Australian Open final, and Aryna the Indian Wells final. And in 2025 they faced each other four times, the balance being balanced, 2-2. And the first time they saw each other in the circuit was in 2019, in Wuhanwhen Sabalenka was victorious in three sets.
What will happen now? The world leader describes their future confrontation in one word. “It will be a battle, for sureSabalenka said in the on-field interview.It's always a battle, always a struggle, a challenge. And I think we push each other to the limit. I hope it's something fun for you guys to watch us play and I'm super excited to play with her again“, she added, addressing the audience.
Aryna Sabalenka, “quarter” controlled in Miami
To get to the duel with Rybakina, Aryna had to go through Hailey Baptistethe American player who had a very good tournament in Miami, reaching the “quarters” stage. It was their first time playing, and Baptiste didn't look intimidated.
Aryna Sabalenka celebrating a point in Miami Photo: Imago Images
Sabalenka, on the other hand, played controlled, not releasing her aggression from the start, but as the game progressed and at the right moments. She saved break points in the first set, then managed to put her opponent in difficult situations when it mattered, winning the points that mattered.
Title champion, Sabalenka is just in the second semifinal of his career in Miami.
Elena Rybakina: “As far as I'm concerned, it's not about rematch”
Elena Rybakinadouble finalist in 2023 and 2024, advanced to the semi-finals after a tough battle with Jessica Pegula. It was not just about tennis, simply, but also about emotions, the Kazakh showing them in full during the match, including in the communication with those in his box.
In the end, however, she managed to overcome the American's resistance and move into the penultimate act. Then asked if she was looking for a rematch against Aryna Sabalenka after her loss in the Indian Wells final, Rybakina weighed in.
“Well, not necessarily. I'd much rather have played her in the final, but honestly, as far as I'm concerned, it's not about a rematch“, she told Tennis Channel. Instead, she described the world No. 1's matches as part of an ongoing process, highlighting the narrow margins that have defined their recent matches and the things they are learning from them.
“I had a lot of opportunities at Indian Wells in the third set, it was like roulette. I just know that we push each other and you can learn from these games. I want to leave every game, regardless of the result, happy with what happened on the pitch, what worked, maybe small improvements“, explained Rybakina.
