Miami Open: Elena Rybakina to face Victoria Azarenka for place in final

Elena Rybakina was able to prevail after a tough Miami Open quarter-final against Maria Sakkari on Tuesday as the former Wimbledon champion qualified for the semi-final for a second straight year with a 7-5 6-7(4) 6-4 victory.

Rybakina, who will lock horns with Victoria Azarenka for a spot in the final, took around three hours to beat Sakkari. The Greek saved two match points in the second set but couldn’t manage to get over the line.

"I have no words because I'm so tired," Kazakh Rybakina said.

"It was such a tough battle. I got a little bit lucky with new balls, so it was easier to serve it out ... now, I just need to recover."

The world number four, Rybakina, will have to bring her best game to the table when she faces three-time Miami champion and former world number one Azarenka.

The veteran Belarusian player defeated Yulia Putintseva 7-6(4) 1-6 6-3 earlier in the day.

Azarenka saved three set points before bagging the first set tiebreak in the 90-minute opener but lost the second set.

"Very happy with today's win," the 34-year-old told reporters.

"It's good to be back in the later stages of the tournament, it's what I work for."

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz stayed on track for a Sunshine Double with a 6-3 6-3 win against Lorenzo Musetti to qualify for the Miami Open quarter-finals for the third straight year on Tuesday.

The Spaniard brushed aside the 23rd seed from Italy in less than 90 minutes with a flurry of forehands.

Daniil Medvedev stayed on course towards retaining a title for the first time in his career after beating Germany's Dominik Koepfer 7-6(5) 6-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Comments

Submit