Miami Open 2025: Sabalenka breezes past Paolini to book final spot.
Sabalenka won 77 per cent of her first-serve points, fired down six aces, saved all four break points she faced and converted four of her five break point chances during the 71-minute match.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka cruised into her first Miami Open final with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Italian sixth seed Jasmine Paolini on Thursday.
Sabalenka won 77 per cent of her first-serve points, fired down six aces, saved all four break points she faced and converted four of her five break point chances during the 71-minute match.
The Belarusian top seed, who resides in South Florida and arrived in Miami fresh off a runner-up finish at Indian Wells, has not dropped a set in her five matches.
“I’m super happy with the level I played today. Of course super happy to be in my first Miami Open final,” said Sabalenka.
Sabalenka was never behind against Paolini, and the match was only tied twice — at 1-1 in each set.
“I definitely would say that this was one of the best matches in the season so far. I don’t know. I was just so focused on myself, on the things I had to do today.
“It felt like everything was just, like, going smoothly my way,” she said.
Up next for Sabalenka will be the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between American fourth seed Jessica Pegula and Philippine wildcard Alexandra Eala, who is coming off a stunning upset of Polish world number two Iga Swiatek.