Elena Rybakina reaches Miami final with gutsy win against Azarenka

Elena Rybakina showed her fighting spirit and resilience as she battled her way into the Miami final for the second consecutive year with a gutsy win against Victoria Azarenka in a deciding tie-break.

The fourth seed from Kazakhstan, aged 24, displayed composure and determination as she overcame a tough challenge from the Belarusian, eventually prevailing 6-4 0-6 7-6 (7-2) in a thrilling encounter.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, will now face unseeded Danielle Collins in the final, who caused an upset by defeating 14th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the semi-finals.

The Kazakh player’s ability to stay calm under pressure, along with her powerful serve and speed, proved to be crucial in her victory over Azarenka, a former world number one known for her fighting spirit.

Reflecting on her hard-fought win, Rybakina expressed her satisfaction at reaching the final, emphasizing her determination to fight till the end and her focus on the target from day one of the tournament.

Despite facing a tough battle in the deciding set, Rybakina remained unfazed and played aggressively in the tie-break to secure the victory after a 74-minute deciding set.

With her eyes set on the WTA 1,000 prize, Rybakina will look to claim the title in Miami and avenge her defeat in last year’s final as she aims to continue her impressive form on the tour.