The first semifinal of the women’s singles edition of the Miami Open has pit Victoria Azarenka against Elena Rybakina, and the two players are ready to battle it out. Both players have shown fantastic performances in the last two weeks, Rybakina more so than Azarenka. The Kazakhstani player returned after being sick and having no fitness or tennis training. 

Azarenka, on the other hand, has not managed to show her best tennis in the last month. The Belarusian player was struggling but turned it around in the second half of the Sunshine Doubles. 

Victoria Azarenka vs Elena Rybakina: Preview

A semifinal exit against Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane International would start Azarenka’s 2024 season. In Australia, she would be eliminated by Dayana Yastremska in the fourth round. In Qatar, Azarenka would leave the championship after losing to Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinal. Her Dubai run would end early as Rybakina would put a stop to her in the round of 32. 

In the Indian Wells Masters, Azarenka lost to Caroline Dolehide in three sets. Miami has proved much better for her, as she began with a three-set win over Peyton Stearns. She then beat Qinwen Zheng, breadsticked Katie Boulter, and then beat Yulia Putinsteva in another three-set clash to set her bout with Rybakina.

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The Kazakhstani player won the Brisbane International to start her 2024 season. However, she was eliminated from the Australian Open in round 2 against Anna Blinkova after a gruesome third set, which went to a tiebreaker and ended after 42 points. She went on to win the Abu Dhabi Open, beating Daria Kasatkina in the final, which was followed by a loss to Iga Swiatek in the final of Qatar.

She reached the quarterfinal in Dubai but had to resign from the tournament, and then she withdrew from the Indian Wells Masters. In Miami, winning has been difficult for her as she has managed to win only against Madison Keys in straight sets, which almost became a three-set clash. She lost a tiebreaker set to Maria Sakkari, but she would eventually win the match.

Azarenka vs Rybakina: Head-to-Head

Azarenka and Rybakina have fought on the court three times in their careers. Their first clash came in the 2022 Indian Wells Masters, which was won by Rybakina in straight sets. However, Azarenka fought well to end the match 6-3, 6-4 for Rybakina. Their next bout would be held in the 2023 Australian Open, where Azarenka would push Lena even harder.

But she would prove to be too much for the Belarusian player, as she won the match 7-6, 6-3. The third match of the two players took place in Dubai, where both had won one set each. The score displayed 6-4, 2-6, but Azarenka could not contest the third set as she had to retire from the match. Their bouts have taken place in hard courts so far, and Rybakina has prevailed in each clash; Azarenka is certainly not in for a night of good luck.

Prediction: Rybakina to win over Azarenka

Both players were tested extensively in the quarterfinals. Azarenka hit 47 winners and 44 unforced errors, while Rybakina hit 35 winners but made 52 unforced errors. The world number 4 outperforms Azarenka in serve and shots, often dominating her opponent from the baseline. On the other hand, the Belarusian player moves better and adapts faster, and they are excellent returners.

Rybakina is the tour’s most consistent performer this year. Given her record versus Belarus, she is likely to reach her second Miami final in a row, hoping to win it once.

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