Fourth seed Elena Rybakina moved into the Miami last for the second straight yr with a gutsy win towards Victoria Azarenka in a deciding tie-break.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, 24, recovered from an terrible second set to win 6-4 0-6 7-6 (7-2) towards the Belarusian.
Rybakina confirmed resilience within the last levels, having led 5-3 earlier than dropping serve at 5-4 as Azarenka levelled.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion will face unseeded Danielle Collins, who upset 14th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Final yr, Rybakina was overwhelmed by Czech Petra Kvitova to the trophy as she aimed to finish the ‘Sunshine Double’ of back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami.
Now she is the favorite to land the WTA 1,000 prize towards American Collins, who’s planning to retire from the tour on the finish of the season.
Former Australian Open runner-up Collins, 30, wanted six set factors to wrap up the primary set towards Russia’s Alexandrova earlier than dominating the second to achieve the WTA 1,000 last of her profession.
Rybakina’s composure is considered one of her biggest strengths – alongside together with her big serve and velocity – and the flexibility to remain calm within the face of adversity is what in the end obtained her by towards former world primary Azarenka.
“It was such a troublesome battle, this match was a goal from day one and I am glad I made it to the ultimate,” stated Rybakina, who missed Indian Wells earlier this month by sickness.
“I knew I’d battle until the top and that is what I did. I switched off my thoughts within the tie-break and simply went for it.”
After taking the opening set with a single break halfway by, Rybakina solely gained 5 factors – together with dropping 16 factors in a row – in a second dominated by former world primary Azarenka.
Rybakina had not confronted a break level within the deciding set till she served for the match at 5-4, saving the primary with a nerveless ace.
Nonetheless, she was dragged across the court docket by 32-year-old Azarenka on the second earlier than placing a volley into the web.
Three-time Miami champion Azarenka, whose combating spirit has been one of many cornerstones of her profitable profession, whipped up the gang as she tried to feed off the vitality.
However Rybakina was unperturbed. She reset and performed aggressively to dominate the tie-break, taking the second of 5 match factors with a forehand winner to clinch a 74-minute deciding set.
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