Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open by defeating Zheng Qinwen in straight sets. Sabalenka’s victory, with a score of 6-3, 6-4, showcased her strong performance against Zheng, despite moments of brilliance from the Chinese player. This win marks Sabalenka’s 15th consecutive WTA quarterfinal appearance, a feat previously achieved only by Justine Henin between 2006 and 2008. Additionally, it is her 32nd WTA 1000 quarterfinal, placing her second among active players, behind Victoria Azarenka.
Sabalenka is set to face American Hailey Baptiste in the next round, who secured her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal spot with a composed win over Jelena Ostapenko. Baptiste, who had earlier upset Elina Svitolina, has shown consistent form throughout the tournament, not dropping a set so far. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, ranked World No. 4, reached her first Miami Open quarterfinal by defeating Sorana Cirstea in a match marked by frequent breaks of serve. Gauff’s strong performance in the deciding set, where she held serve throughout, led to her victory, maintaining her unbeaten record against Cirstea.
In the upcoming quarterfinal, Gauff will face Belinda Bencic, who secured her spot by defeating Amanda Anisimova in a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win. Bencic, seeded 12th, controlled the match from start to finish, setting up a challenging clash against Gauff as she aims for consecutive wins over Top 10 opponents.
