Hold your breath, the world number 4 is all set to take on the number 9 in a high-octane Top 10 clash at the QF of the 2024 Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium in just a few hours. Elena Rybakina has been in dazzling form this year and has already clinched two titles. The 24-year-old Kazakhstani tennis star is now, in fact, the top-ranked player left in Miami after the recent exit of the top three seeds from the tournament. Can Maria Sakkari cut short Rybakina’s journey in Miami by defeating her in their next match?

Elena Rybakina’s gastrointestinal illness led her to miss out on defending her Indian Wells title a few weeks ago. She would surely hope not to miss out on a chance to grab the silverware at the other ‘Sunshine Doubles’ event.

Elena Rybakina vs Maria Sakkari: Preview

Rybakina started her season this year with a title triumph at the Brisbane International. She reached the QF of the Adelaide International but she was defeated in her second-round match at the first Grand Slam of the season. However, she came back with yet another title-winning run in Abu Dhabi and also made it to the finals in the Qatar Open. But in the next two tournaments, she was seen struggling with her illness, but in Miami, she looks to be back on track yet again.

In her last match, Rybakina defeated America’s Madison Keys by 6-3,7-5 margin in just 1 hour 24 minutes. With this win, she has now reached her second consecutive Miami Open QF. 

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Her opponent in this match, Maria Sakkari started her season by reaching the second round of the AO and making it to the R16 in Abu Dhabi. In the next two tournaments, the Greek tennis star couldn’t do much but she reached the finals at the Indian Wells this year, where she was defeated by the current world no.1 Iga Swiatek by a 4-6,0-6 margin. Maria Sakkari received a walkover to the QF, so she has also got quite a decent time for her recovery ahead of this intriguing contest. But who’s ahead in the H2H?

Rybakina vs Sakkari: Head-to-Head

Currently, Elena Rybakina leads the H2H by a 2-1 margin. In their previous meeting in Cancun a year ago, Rybakina defeated Sakkari by 6-0,6-7(4),7-6(2). Does it seem like Rybakina is winning it everywhere? Interestingly, she needed three sets to get the job done against Sakkari on both occasions. In fact, their records on the hard courts are level at 1-1.

Elena Rybakina lost two sets in the event to win 53% of the points she played. She has won 70% of her matches in the last 10 years (309-155). Her record has been quite astonishing on the hard courts as well, she has a win-loss record of 20-3 on the same surface this year. What was her record last year on hard courts? Well, she had a win-loss record of 147-69, how many victories can she clinch this year on this surface?

Maria Sakkari perhaps might be having the best answer to this question as of now. And talking about her own records in this tournament, well the Greek hasn’t yet dropped a single set in Miami this year and has won 56% of the points she played. She has a win-loss record of 12-5, so far this season. Sakkari reached the SF of the Miami Open in 2021.

Prediction: Rybakina to have the last laugh in this mega-battle

Elena Rybakina reached the finals in Miami last year. She’d love to go a step further and get hold of the silverware this season. But Maria Sakkari on the other hand, has a tough challenge up ahead. The No. 9 has faced 5 defeats this season and all 5 of them have come on the hard courts. While Rybakina has won 20 matches on the same surface this season.

Despite her recent admission of experiencing discomfort at the Miami Open, Elena Rybakina now looks forward to capitalizing on all the time she has to recover ahead of this intriguing clash. And, steps onto the court fully fit against Sakkari, it’d be a really tough ask to outclass the no.4. What are your thoughts on this match?

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