Miami, 26 March (H.S.):

The women’s singles semifinal of the Miami Open 2026 will feature a heavyweight showdown between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and world number two Elena Rybakina. Both players advanced to the last four after winning their respective quarterfinals at the hard‑court WTA 1000 event being held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Defending champion Sabalenka edged past American Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-4 to secure her place in the semifinal. The match kept fans on the edge of their seats as Baptiste pushed the top seed to closing games in both sets, but Sabalenka held her nerve at crucial moments to seal victory. Her win keeps alive her bid for what is popularly known as the “Sunshine Double”, after having already triumphed at Indian Wells earlier this year.

On the other side of the draw, Rybakina moved past fifth‑seeded Jessica Pegula 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. After dropping the opening set, the Kazakh player shifted gears and gradually took control of the match. It marked her fifth consecutive win over Pegula, including earlier victories at the Australian Open and Indian Wells this season. The comeback highlighted Rybakina’s ability to reset her rhythm mid‑match and execute under pressure.

The duo will now face each other on Thursday night at the Hard Rock Stadium for a spot in the Miami Open final. Their rivalry has produced some of the most thrilling matches on tour in recent years. Earlier this year, Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, handing her the only loss of 2026 so far. Sabalenka then avenged that defeat by overcoming Rybakina in the Indian Wells final, underlining the fine margins that separate the two hard‑hitting champions.

After her quarterfinal win, Sabalenka said matches against Rybakina are always tough and highly entertaining, and she is looking forward to the upcoming clash. The Belarusian world number one is now just two wins away from completing the Sunshine Double, a rare feat that has long been regarded as a benchmark of dominance on the North American hard‑court swing.

In the men’s singles draw, Czech tennis player Jiri Lehecka reached the semifinals by defeating Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce 7-6(7/1), 7-5. The match was far from straightforward, as Landaluce saved every break point in the opening set to keep the contest tight. However, Lehecka seized control in the tiebreak and then broke in the final game of the second set to clinch victory under pressure.

Lehecka will now await the winner of the quarterfinal clash between American Tommy Paul and French player Arthur Fils. Both players have been in strong form this season, and the outcome of that match will set the stage for another high‑quality semifinal encounter in the men’s singles competition at the 2026 Miami Open.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar