Elena Rybakina Secures Miami Open Semi-final Spot With Comeback Over Pegula

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Elena Rybakina produced another comeback against Jessica Pegula to move into the Miami Open semi-finals. The Australian Open champion overturned a poor start to win 2-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 15 minutes, extending a strong recent record in this rivalry.

Pegula began with authority and raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. Rybakina settled later in the set and started to find range on serve and return. The response arrived too late, though, and Pegula closed out the opener 6-2 without major trouble.

Rybakina started the second set with more accuracy and depth on groundstrokes. Pegula created four break chances across the Kazakhstani’s first three service games. Rybakina defended all of them with composed serving. That resistance proved key as Rybakina then earned the first break and protected it to level the match.

Pegula’s level dipped at the beginning of the deciding set, and Rybakina capitalised immediately. A break in the opening game gave Rybakina control on the scoreboard. Pegula did not manage to retrieve that deficit, while Rybakina stayed firm despite missing three further break opportunities before taking the first match point.

This result continues a clear swing in their head-to-head record. Rybakina dropped three of the first four meetings with Pegula during 2022 and 2023. Since then, Rybakina has claimed the last five clashes, all played within the most recent seven months on tour.

The Miami Open victory also carries wider significance for Rybakina’s record at WTA-1000 level. The Kazakhstani now owns a 13th semi-final appearance at that tier. That moves Rybakina past Li Na, who reached 12, for the most such runs by any player representing an Asian nation since 2009.

Rybakina’s progress in Miami follows another deep campaign at Indian Wells. Since the WTA introduced the current format in 2009, Rybakina becomes only the third player to reach semi-finals at both Indian Wells and Miami in more than one season, joining Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka in that group.

The latest comeback against Pegula keeps Rybakina in contention for another major hard-court title. The performance under pressure, the extended winning streak in this match-up, and the new WTA-1000 milestone underline why Rybakina remains a central figure in the late stages of the Miami Open.