Aryna Sabalenka makes Miami Open final to close in on Sunshine Double

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Sabalenka[/a], who fell to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Rybakina[/a] in the Australian Open final before turning the tables on the Kazakh in the Indian Wells title match this earlier this month, broke the big-serving Rybakina twice in each set [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/rybakina-e-UDzElXdm/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=z3D3Lt9j"]to come out on top in the blockbuster semi-final[/a] and keep her bid for the "Sunshine Double" of Indian Wells and Miami on track.[/p][p]"[b]I think I did everything right[/b]," said Sabalenka, who applied ruthless pressure on Rybakina's serve while delivering a sterling service performance that featured nine aces - including four in a row across the seventh and ninth games of the opening set.[/p][p]"[b]She's an incredible player, always pushes me to the limit,[/b]" Sabalenka said. "[b]With her, you have to bring your best tennis and that's why I was able to pull out such great tennis today.[/b]"[/p][p]Sabalenka had to save a match point to beat Rybakina in Indian Wells, but she was on the front foot on Thursday, seizing a break for a 3-1 lead in the opening set.[/p][embed guid="ceab6479-17b7-4e3f-8536-01694683964e" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2037348730647576727?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Rybakina recouped the break immediately, but Sabalenka broke again to pocket the set and took command in the second with a break for 2-0 in a game which Rybakina led 40-0.[/p][p]Trailing 0-4, Rybakina clawed back a break for 4-1 but Sabalenka wouldn't flinch again. Rybakina saved one match point on her own serve before Sabalenka served it out with a love game punctuated by a fierce forehand winner.[/p][p]The match marked the first time outside the WTA Finals that the world's two top-ranked players met before a final since [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hingis-martina/6J0pscT7/"]Martina Hingis[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/novotna-jana/j1D44hfi/"]Jana Novotna[/a] in the 1998 US Open semi-finals.[/p][p]It could only come about because Rybakina was seeded third, her rise to second in the rankings on Monday coming a day after the Miami draw was made.[/p]