Elena Rybakina confirmed her place in the Miami Open semi-finals by defeating Jessica Pegula in three sets.
The world number two responded to going a set down to win the next two and continue her excellent form in 2026.
Pegula heaped praise on Rybakina after the match and the Kazakhstani player will now face Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final.
Rybakina continued an incredible record by defeating Pegula, one which no other WTA star has been able to achieve.
Elena Rybakina’s dominant record over Jessica Pegula after Miami win
Pegula and Rybakina have played out eight matches on the WTA Tour, with the latter slightly edging their head-to-head record.
Rybakina’s latest win was her fifth against Pegula, which have impressively all come in a row against the talented American.
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The world number two’s dominance at the top of the WTA Tour has seen her beat Pegula at the 2023 Miami Open, the WTA Finals in consecutive years, the 2025 Australian Open, as well as this year in Miami.
No other player in tennis has managed to beat Pegula five times in a row, with Belinda Bencic coming closest with four straight victories.
Pegula ended that run at Indian Wells and stated: “Nobody beats me five times in a row”, but it has happened at the next tournament.
Pegula started her rivalry against Rybakina by beating her three times in their first four matches, so the world number two has clearly found a solution to her problem.
History is on Elena Rybakina’s side at the Miami Open
Rybakina has an interesting record at the Miami Open, but she has been far from consistent at the Masters event.
The star has crashed out of the tournament at the third round stage on two occasions, and she lost at the first hurdle in 2025.
Alternatively, Rybakina also reached back-to-back finals in 2023 and 2024, but the star lost both of those matches.
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Thankfully for Rybakina, she is yet to lose a semi-final match at the Miami Open ahead of her third clash of the year with Sabalenka.
Rybakina and Sabalenka have met in the Australian Open final and the Indian Wells final, and they share a win apiece.
Sabalenka and Rybakina’s semi-final match is set to headline the action in Miami on March 27th, beginning around 7pm local time.
