Elena Rybakina survives Victoria Azarenka onslaught, edges into Miami Open final

Elena Rybakina is a win away from winning her first Miami Open title: the 2023 finalist survived a stormy second set and a late surge from Victoria Azarenka to defeat the former world No. 1, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (2).

"It was an unbelievable atmosphere," Rybakina said on court after the match. "I really enjoyed it. It was such a tough battle. For me, this tournament has been a marathon since Day 1, and I'm really happy I made it to the final."

Rybakina improved to 4-0 against Azarenka on Thursday, reaching her fourth final of 2024 and booking a championship clash against former world No. 7 Danielle Collins after two hours and 36 minutes on Stadium Court.

The highest-ranked woman left in the draw following early exits from top seeds Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff, Rybakina emerged the clear favorite to take home the title in Miami as second week action got underway. But the Kazakh has been made to battle through her first four matches in the Sunshine State, needing three sets to defeat Clara Tauson, Taylor Townsend, and Maria Sakkari—requiring nearly three hours and five match points to defeat the latter in the quarterfinals.

Azarenka, a three-time champion in Miami (2009, 2011, 2016), has been similarly tested as the No. 27 seed, defeating quality opponents like Australian Open finalist Zheng Qinwen and an on-fire Katie Boulter before shaking off a bizarre Hawkeye Live malfunction in the last eight against a resurgent Yulia Putintseva in three sets.

Rybakina nonetheless began the match on better footing, picking up where she left off against Azarenka, who retired from their most recent match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, by converting the lone break of the opening set behind 21 winners to 12.

The second set proved a shocking reversal as Azarenka produced just one unforced error to reel off the next seven games. Rybakina, by comparison, struggled mightily with her rhythm off the ground, making 13 unforced errors to just four winners and was reduced to frustration as Azarenka marched towards only her second set against the 2022 Wimbledon champion.

Rybakina settled early in the third, navigating a titanic fifth game that nearly proved pivotal as she converted her fifth break chance thanks to a netted backhand from Azarenka. Rybakina served her way to a 5-3 lead with the finals in sight.

Azarenka fought valiantly on the brink of defeat, pressuring Rybakina with some vintage ball striking as she served for the match and outfoxing the No. 4 seed with the backing from an enraptured crowd. Playing phenomenal defense, Azarenka, who first won this title back in 2009, evened the contest at five games apiece and had the crowd on their feet when she won a third straight game.

Suddenly serving to stay in the match, Rybakina regained her composure to win 10 of the next 11 points, forcing a tiebreaker with a love-hold and roaring to five match points at 6-1 in what looked to be an anti-climactic Sudden Death.

Azarenka saved one with a brave forehand winner, but Rybakina responded with one of her own to end the clash after over two and a half hours, ending the match with 40 winners to 43 unforced errors against Azarenka's identical differential of 28 to 29.

Awaiting her in the final will be Collins, the winner of Thursday evening's semifinal over No. 14 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-3, 6-2. Collins, who announced 2024 would be her final season on tour, is into the first WTA 1000 final, but trails Rybakina 3-1 in their head-to-head.