World number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Jessica Pegula in the Miami Open final today after teenage sensation Alexandra Eala was beaten in the semi-finals.
Belarusian Sabalenka, 26, is yet to drop a set at the tournament and was in fine form as she stormed to a 6-2 6-2 win over sixth seed Jasmine Paolini.
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has now reached two finals in succession, having lost to Mirra Andreeva at Indian Wells earlier this month.
Top seed Sabalenka – who has never previously reached the Miami showpiece – delivered a clinical performance on Thursday, dominating Italian Paolini with powerful serves and punishing groundstrokes.
Meanwhile, American Pegula ended 19-year-old Eala’s remarkable run in Miami with a 7-6 (7-3) 5-7 6-3 victory.
Aside from two mistimed overheads and an ambitious ‘tweener’ shot which did not have enough power to trouble her opponent, Sabalenka barely put a foot wrong as she surged to victory in just one hour and 13 minutes.
Sabalenka has reached her fourth final in 2025, winning in Brisbane in January before defeats by American Madison Keys at the Australian Open then by Andreeva at Indian Wells two weeks ago.
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