Aryna Sabalenka matches Hingis and Graf with Miami Open milestone

Aryna Sabalenka’s pursuit of the ‘Sunshine Double’ remained on course after she saw off Hailey Baptiste at the Miami Open.

Baptiste was her own worst enemy at key moments, with mistakes creeping in late in both sets. Sabalenka took full advantage, closing out a straight-sets victory 6-4, 6-4.

That win sets up a semi-final clash with Elena Rybakina.

Sabalenka has already beaten Rybakina once this month, coming out on top in the Indian Wells final. If she can repeat that result, she’ll move one step closer to joining an exclusive group of women who’ve completed the Indian Wells-Miami double – something only four players have achieved before.

Sabalenka joins select company in tennis history

Aryna Sabalenka has become the fifth player to win 10 or more straight matches at the Miami Open without dropping a set, according to statistics from OptaAce.

She joins a list that includes Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Steffi Graf, and Chris Evert. Among these five, only one managed to pull off the Sunshine Double—winning both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year.

Steffi Graf was the first to do it back in 1994 and repeated the feat two years later. Since then, three others have joined her: Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Swiatek.

Swiatek was the most recent to achieve it, completing the double in 2022.

Sabalenka shares thoughts on upcoming clash with Rybakina

“I think it’s definitely going to be a battle,” Sabalenka said during her on-court interview, as reported by the WTA Tour.

“It’s always a battle, always a fight, always a challenge. And I think we push each other to the limit, and we always bring the best tennis.

“I hope that it’s really enjoyable for you guys to watch us play and I’m super excited [to be] playing her again.”

Thursday’s match will be the 17th time Sabalenka and Rybakina have faced each other on tour.

Sabalenka holds a slight edge in their head-to-head record at 9-7 but has dropped four of the last six encounters against Rybakina.

The winner will go on to face either Coco Gauff or Karolina Muchova in the Miami Open final. Gauff came through against Belinda Bencic in the quarter-finals, while Muchova got past Victoria Mboko.

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