Miami Open 2023: Rybakina and Pegula ease past opponents to reach quarterfinals

Elena Rybakina extended her winning streak to eleven straight wins, after defeating Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Miami Open for the first time in her career.

It is Rybakina's fourth quarterfinal this season and a second consecutive quarterfinal at WTA 1000 level after the Indian Wells, proving her position as one of the top three female tennis players in the world.

The Indian Wells champion wasn't disturbed in her match with Mertens, easily winning the opening set and then sealing it in the second.

Her victory made her the 21st female player to win 9+ matches in a row at the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami Open): 16 of the 20 who did that previously have been No.1 in the world at least one week in their respective careers.

She is also the first female player to serve 10+ aces in three consecutive matches this season.

Speaking after the match on beating Mertens, the Kazakh was modest in her words and talked about how she's still finding her way.

“It was a very tough match. I didn’t start so good. It’s not easy here. I don’t feel the freshest of course, but I’m trying to find my way. I’m just happy that today, it went my way in two sets,” Rybakina said.

Jessica Pegula defeated Magda Linette 6-0, 7-5 to easily advance into the quarterfinals of the Miami Open - her 12th career WTA 1000 quarterfinal.

Pegula was down 2-5 in the 2nd set but showed why she’s the world No.3, rallying back to win the set eventually.

She is now the fifth American female player to reach consecutive quarterfinals at the Miami Open this Century, after Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Lindsay Davenport, and Jennifer Capriati.

On beating Linette, Pegula was glad everything clicked right from the first set.

“First set I came out and things were just clicking. I know she’s a really good competitor and wasn’t going to let me win easily. I know it’s a Monday, thanks to everyone that decided not to go to work today to come to watch me,” she said.