After losing their first two encounters, Rybakina finally defeated the American. With a 21-3 record, she is currently leading the tour in matches won in 2023.
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In order to reach her second consecutive Miami Open final, world no. 7 Elena Rybakina defeated no. 3 Jessica Pegula 7-6(3), 6-4. This was her 13th straight triumph overall. Rybakina moved within one victory of becoming the fifth woman to win Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back to complete the Sunshine Double after taking the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. After losing their first two encounters, Rybakina finally defeated the American. With a 21-3 record, she is currently leading the tour in matches won in 2023.
Pegula struggled to hold onto her numerous break advantages in their opening match of the season. In the first set, Pegula defeated Rybakina three times and twice at the score of 5-4 and 6-5. Rybakina struggled with her energy levels, but whenever she trailed in the score, she would swing freely.
“Jessica, she played really well some moments,” Rybakina said. “It’s not easy to play against her because she keeps the ball really low, and it’s difficult to redirect the ball. I was playing today better when I was down. Then I think that I was doing everything correct. It was just not enough maybe energy. Maybe I was getting a bit mad when I was down. So I was trying to push myself.”
Rybakina had 11 aces overall for the entire game. She has served 10 or more aces in each of the last five games. She is the first woman since Serena Williams to hit 10 or more aces in five straight matches at a single tournament, and she already leads the WTA Tour in aces.
Taylor Fritz, a local favourite, put on a strong performance, but Carlos Alcaraz once again demonstrated that he is virtually unbeatable when at his best. The World No. 1 kept the American at arm’s length in a smooth 6-4, 6-2 victory in a Thursday night quarterfinal to advance in his pursuit of the Sunshine Double, a rare title sweep across Indian Wells and Miami.
Alcaraz did his damage early in both sets, seizing control with an instant break of serve in each. Alcaraz needed to defend his Miami title in order to maintain his top spot in the ATP Rankings. After the first game, Fritz was arguably the better player and had recovered well from his early deficit, but Alcaraz successfully saved two break points by half-volleying both of them to maintain his lead.
“A little bit of nerves at the beginning of the match. It was new for me, playing against him,” Alcaraz said of his first meeting with Fritz. “I knew that I had to play my game, the way that I was playing the previous matches, a high level for me. Of course I’m very happy with the way I started the match, with no mistakes and with a lot of power. It was a key for me to break his serve at the beginning and then [play] my game.”
Alcaraz and Fritz both had a 2-0 record this season against Top 10 opposition as of Thursday. With the win, Alcaraz improved to 18-1 overall in 2023. It was his 10th straight victory. He needs two more victories to become the first person since Roger Federer in 2017 to win the championships in Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back.
