Top Women's Tennis Players to Face Off in Miami Open Semifinal

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Elena Rybakina to battle for a spot in the final

Mar. 26, 2026 at 4:39pm

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The top two women's tennis players in the world, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, will face off in the semifinals of the Miami Open on Thursday. Sabalenka, the defending champion, defeated American Hailey Baptiste 6-4 6-4 to advance, while Rybakina rallied from a set down to beat Jessica Pegula 2-6 6-3 6-4. The two players have met 16 times before, with Sabalenka holding a 9-7 edge in their head-to-head matchup.

Why it matters

This highly anticipated semifinal matchup between the world's top two players will showcase the best women's tennis has to offer. Both Sabalenka and Rybakina are vying for the prestigious 'Sunshine Double' after winning the Indian Wells title, adding extra drama and significance to their clash.

The details

Sabalenka, the world No. 1, is looking to complete the 'Sunshine Double' after winning the Indian Wells title. She defeated American Hailey Baptiste in straight sets to reach the semifinals. Rybakina, the world No. 2, rallied from a set down to beat Jessica Pegula, her fifth consecutive win over the American. The two players have met 16 times before, with Sabalenka holding a 9-7 edge in their head-to-head matchup.

  • The semifinal match between Sabalenka and Rybakina will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

The players

Aryna Sabalenka

The world No. 1 women's tennis player and the defending champion of the Miami Open.

Elena Rybakina

The world No. 2 women's tennis player and Sabalenka's opponent in the Miami Open semifinal.

Hailey Baptiste

The American tennis player who Sabalenka defeated in the quarterfinals.

Jessica Pegula

The American tennis player who Rybakina defeated in the quarterfinals.

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What they’re saying

“It's definitely going to be a battle. It's always a battle, always a fight, always a challenge.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

“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.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

“It's always very difficult matches with Jessica. 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.”

— Elena Rybakina

“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.”

— Elena Rybakina

What’s next

The winner of the Sabalenka-Rybakina semifinal will advance to the Miami Open final on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated semifinal matchup between the world's top two women's tennis players, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, will showcase the best the sport has to offer and determine who will have the chance to claim the prestigious 'Sunshine Double' title.