World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina on Wednesday set up a blockbuster semi-final at the Miami Open in a repeat of their Melbourne grand slam decider.
Defending champion Sabalenka fended off big-hitting 45th-ranked American Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-4.
World No 2 Rybakina overcame fifth-seeded American Jessica Pegula, a runner-up to Sabalenka last year, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
They will be back on Thursday at Hard Rock Stadium — home of the N.F.L.’s Miami Dolphins — vying for a place in the final.
Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in a thrilling Australian Open title match back in January — the only defeat incurred by the world No 1 in 2026 so far — but the Belarusian took revenge, winning last month’s final at Indian Wells.
“We’ve played many matches, actually recently, and all of them have been a battle, all of them been a show,” Sabalenka said during an interview with the Tennis Channel. “I’m super-excited facing her.”
Now Sabalenka is two victories away from completing Indian Wells and Miami’s “Sunshine Double.”
Baptiste, in her first WTA 1000 quarter-final, was unable convert three break points during Sabalenka’s first two service games.
Sabalenka eventually broke Baptiste when the American double-faulted on set point.
Sabalenka got an early break in the second, but Baptiste broke back and served confidently to even it at 4-4.
But as she served at 4-5 to remain in the match, the American started with three consecutive double faults. Then Sabalenka struck, taking her second match point with a blistering return.
“She really made it tough for me,” Sabalenka said.
“The cadence, the weight of her shots is amazing. “I’m really happy that I was able to cope with the pressure and get the win.”
She now faces a familiar foe in Rybakina, who shrugged off a slow start to record her fifth win in row over Pegula — part of a run that includes a semi-final victory at the Australian Open and quarter-final triumph at Indian Wells.
Breaking twice to take a 4-0 lead, Pegula claimed theopening set after 35 minutes.Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
But Kazakh Rybakina, who was born in Moscow, found her groove and broke for a 4-2 lead en route to pushing the match into a decider, where she took charge with an initial break.
“She started playing good, I was a little rushed and felt frustrated, but I’m glad that I was able to recover and turn it around in second set,” said Rybakina, who is seeded third despite moving up to No 2 in the world for the first time this week.
In the men’s draw, the 28th-seeded Arthur Fils of France rescued four match points in a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 victory over the American No. 22 seed Tommy Paul.
Fils was down 6-2 in the third-set tiebreaker and saved four consecutive match points before winning after two hours and 49 minutes.
“It was a dogfight and I never back down from a fight,” said Fils. “Even if I lose, it’s OK, I just did the best I could.
“That’s the best result I’ve had in my life before,” the 21-year-old said.
Fils will meet — in his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final — 21st-seeded Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Fils defeated Lehecka in the quarter-finals at Doha last month.
Lehecka closed out the dream run of qualifier Martin Landaluce, defeating the 151st-ranked Spaniard 7-6, 7-5.