Sabalenka, Gauff Advance to Miami Open Quarterfinals

Defending champion Sabalenka and rising star Gauff secure spots in the final eight at the prestigious tennis tournament.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 10:29am

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Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, booked her spot in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open with a straight-sets victory over Zheng Qinwen. American teenager Coco Gauff also advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Sorana Cirstea in three sets. Hailey Baptiste and Belinda Bencic also secured quarterfinal berths with impressive wins.

Why it matters

The Miami Open is one of the premier tennis tournaments on the WTA calendar, and the quarterfinal matchups will feature some of the top players in the women's game. Sabalenka's continued success as the defending champion and Gauff's rise as a young American star are significant storylines in the sport.

The details

Sabalenka, the world No. 2, dispatched Zheng in one hour and 25 minutes with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. She will next face American Hailey Baptiste, who earned her first-ever spot in a WTA 1000 quarterfinal by upsetting No. 25 seed Jelena Ostapenko. Gauff, the 22-year-old former French Open champion, beat Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal clash with Belinda Bencic, who upset Amanda Anisimova.

  • The Miami Open is currently underway, with the quarterfinal matches scheduled for March 28-29, 2026.

The players

Aryna Sabalenka

The world No. 2 and defending champion of the Miami Open.

Coco Gauff

The 22-year-old American tennis sensation and former French Open champion.

Hailey Baptiste

The American tennis player who earned her first-ever spot in a WTA 1000 quarterfinal.

Belinda Bencic

The Swiss tennis player who upset Amanda Anisimova to book her spot in the quarterfinals.

Zheng Qinwen

The Chinese tennis player who was defeated by Sabalenka in the fourth round.

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What they’re saying

“She (Zheng) a tough opponent and I am super happy with the level I played at today. I can definitely say that it felt like home. Thanks to you guys, you really make this stadium feel like home for me.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

“I guess it would not have to happen any other way than to put some work in. I think in the previous times I have played here, I have had some tough matches. Maybe mentally was not in there. Today I just wanted to stay mentally in there.”

— Coco Gauff

What’s next

The Miami Open quarterfinal matches are scheduled for March 28-29, 2026, with the semifinals and final to follow on March 30-31.

The takeaway

The continued success of top players like Sabalenka and the rise of young stars like Gauff highlight the competitive and exciting nature of women's professional tennis. The Miami Open quarterfinals will feature some of the best talent in the sport as they compete for the prestigious title.