Sabalenka sets up Miami Open final with Gauff

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka eased past Elena Rybakina 6-4 6-3 on Thursday to book a Miami Open final against ​Coco Gauff as the world number one bids to become ‌the fifth woman to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’ after her title win at Indian Wells. Sabalenka took full advantage of a series of errors from Rybakina to win the ​opening set, and the four-times Grand Slam champion then raced ahead ​4-0 in the second. World number two Rybakina, who beat the ⁠Belarusian in the Australian Open final in January, clawed her way ​back into the match but Sabalenka shut the door to wrap up ​a comfortable win. “I really enjoy our rivalry, she’s an incredible player, “ said Sabalenka. “I think I did everything right, she played great but I think I pushed her so ​much. ” Earlier, Gauff delivered a commanding 6-1 6-1 win over Karolina Muchova to book a ​place in her sixth WTA 1000 final. The American world number four made a slow ‌start ⁠as Muchova broke immediately to take the opening game but Gauff responded with a break of her own and then reeled off the remaining games and closed out the set to love. Muchova, 29, had been in fine form ​coming into the ​contest, having won ⁠the title in Doha earlier this season, but a flurry of unforced errors allowed Gauff to break three times in the second set to complete the victory and extend ​her perfect head-to-head record against the Czech to 6-0. Gauff will face Sabalenka ​on Saturday ⁠in their 13th career meeting, the pair having split the previous 12. The American got the better of Sabalenka in last year’s French Open final ⁠but ​the world number one got the win ​in their most recent meeting at the WTA Finals.

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