Sabalenka stands tall, eyes miami glory

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka proved her mettle in Miami, outlasting Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-4 to reach her second consecutive Sunshine Doubleshowdown.

Rybakina rematch looms in semifinals

The Belarusian powerhouse, seeking her first Miami title, dispatched the 45th-ranked Baptiste in an hour and 19 minutes. Sabalenka overcame early jitters, saving three break points in the opening set before capitalizing on her first opportunity to take the lead 5-4.

In the decisive second set, both players traded holds until the sixth game, when the tide turned with consecutive breaks. Sabalenka seized her chance, converting from 15-40 to go ahead 5-4 and eventually 6-4.

The win marked Sabalenka's ninth Miami Open appearance and set up a highly anticipated rematch against Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. The Kazakhstani star defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open and Indian Wells finals this year.

With her sights set on a historic Miami title, Sabalenka looks poised to make history as the first woman to win the Sunshine Double since 2015.