WTA 1000: MIAMI OPEN.By Emiliano Naftali
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in her first Miami Open final with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over sixth seed Jasmina Paolini on Thursday at the Hard Rock Stadium, never losing her serve as she advanced to her 12th career WTA 1000 final.
Miami has become something of a home tournament for Sabalenka, who resides in South Florida. She previously told the press during the tournament that she loves being able to sleep in her own bed, drive her car, and even do her laundry while competing.
Meanwhile, world No. 4 Jessica Pegula ended the brilliant run of Filipino Alexandra Eala (ranked 140th) to book her place in the final.
This will be Pegula’s sixth appearance in a WTA 1000 final. The American, a seven-time champion at the highest level, has triumphed in Guadalajara (2022), Montreal (2023), and Toronto (2024), while falling short in Madrid (2022) and Cincinnati (2024).
Photo Gabriel Matteazzi
A Look at Their History
Sabalenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion and one of the most dominant power hitters on tour, has steadily built her legacy since breaking into the top ranks. She won her first WTA 1000 title in Wuhan 2018 and has since added several major trophies, including her Australian Open triumphs in 2023 and 2024. Known for her aggressive baseline game and powerful serve, she thrives on fast courts but has also shown great adaptability.
Pegula, on the other hand, has steadily risen through the rankings with her consistency and all-court game. Born into a family with deep sports business ties, she has carved her own path in tennis, becoming a mainstay in the world’s top five. While she has yet to claim a Grand Slam, her resilience and tactical intelligence have made her a formidable opponent on tour.
On the technical side, Pegula shared her thoughts ahead of the final:
“I feel like I’m serving a little better. I’ve been returning well here, so I think I can give myself a chance despite Aryna being one of the best servers in the world. She’s really tough, plays with a lot of confidence, but I think she prefers a slightly faster court to be more aggressive and go for quick one-two shots. At the US Open, I had my chances—5-3 up in the second set—who knows what would have happened? […] I know I’ll have opportunities if I play good tennis, so I’ll try to give it my all and take advantage of them. I want to learn from our previous matches.”