Following Indian Wells, Miami is set for another blockbuster as Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina prepare to renew their rivalry. Before that headline clash, Karolina Muchova takes on Coco Gauff, aiming to secure her first win after five consecutive defeats to the American.

Muchova vs Gauff – 20:00 CET

Match news and form

Gauff has shown remarkable resilience throughout the tournament, most recently battling past Belinda Bencic in a fourth straight three-set encounter. The American came from a break down in the final set to seal a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory, reaching a new personal best in Miami.

In doing so, Gauff became the youngest American to reach the Miami Open semi-finals since Serena Williams in 2004—the year she was born. Her journey has been anything but smooth, having rallied from a set down against Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Alycia Parks, while also dropping a set to Sorana Cîrstea.

The reigning Roland-Garros champion arrived in Miami with mixed results, including early exits in Doha and Indian Wells, but also strong performances with a quarter-final run at the Australian Open and a semi-final finish in Dubai.

Muchova, meanwhile, edged past Victoria Mboko 7-5, 7-6, saving a set point late in the second set. Despite converting just one break, she held firm on serve, fending off both break-point opportunities she faced.

After recovering from a set down against Camila Osorio in the opening round, the Czech has been dominant, winning her next three matches in straight sets, including victories over Katie Boulter and Alexandra Eala. Having never progressed beyond the third round in Miami before, Muchova has arrived in top form and now boasts an impressive 18-3 record this season.

Head-to-head

Gauff leads the rivalry 5-0. She won their first four encounters in straight sets, although their most recent meeting—at the Australian Open earlier this year—proved more competitive.

Stats & Facts

Coco Gauff is set to contest just her seventh semi-final since the start of 2025, having improved her record to 4-2 in her last six appearances at this stage—an upgrade from her 3-6 return in 2024.

The American has reached five WTA 1000 finals in her career, with three coming in 2025 alone, finishing runner-up in Madrid and Rome while lifting the title in Wuhan.

For Karolina Muchova, a victory here would rank among her biggest in recent times, particularly since her win over world No. 4 Jasmine Paolini at the United Cup earlier this year.

Since returning in 2024, Muchova holds a 3-5 record in semi-finals. However, she showed signs of resurgence last month in Doha, reaching her first final since Beijing 2024 and claiming her first title since Seoul 2019.

Betting Analysis

After navigating four consecutive three-set battles, Gauff will be buoyed by her growing confidence and resilience. While she can expect another stern test from Muchova, her dominant head-to-head record and strong backing from the home crowd could prove decisive in pushing her into the final.

Karolina Muchova in 2026

Muchova has enjoyed an impressive 2026 campaign, highlighted by her title run in Doha—her standout result so far and her best performance on outdoor hard courts. She holds a strong 18-3 record this season, including 9-1 in her last 10 matches, underlining her consistency.

Against top-10 opponents, Muchova has gone 3-3 this year (18-27 career), while she boasts a solid 3-1 career record in WTA 1000 semi-finals. Overall, she stands 7-9 in semi-finals across her career. Her best Grand Slam showing this season came at the Australian Open, where she reached the round of 16.

Miami Open record
Muchova has a 10-3 career record in Miami and has reached the semi-finals here for the first time in 2026, already her best result at the tournament.

Road to the semi-finals
After a first-round bye, she battled past Camila Osorio before defeating Katie Boulter, Alexandra Eala, and Victoria Mboko.

Coco Gauff in 2026

Gauff’s best result this season came with a semi-final appearance in Dubai, contributing to her 15-5 overall record and 8-2 run across her last 10 matches. On outdoor hard courts, she mirrors that 15-5 tally.

She has performed solidly against top-20 opposition (3-2 this season, 57-53 career), although she is still looking to improve her semi-final record at WTA 1000 level, currently 0-1 in 2026 (5-8 career). Overall, she holds a 14-17 career record in semi-finals.

Her Grand Slam highlight this year was a quarter-final run at the Australian Open.

Miami Open record
Gauff has a 12-6 career record in Miami and has now reached the semi-finals for the first time.

Road to the semi-finals
After a bye, she overcame Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Alycia Parks, Sorana Cîrstea, and Belinda Bencic—all in hard-fought matches.

Sabalenka vs Rybakina – Friday 01:30 CET

Match news and form

Aryna Sabalenka has powered into the Miami Open semi-finals for the second time in her career, keeping her title defence firmly on track. The world No. 1 eased past Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-4, maintaining a flawless run without dropping a set.

She has been dominant throughout the tournament, not conceding more than four games in a set since her opening match against Ann Li, while also dispatching Caty McNally and Zheng Qinwen. Her season record now stands at an outstanding 21-1.

Sabalenka’s consistency has been remarkable, reaching 12 finals in her last 19 tournaments since the start of 2025 and winning six titles. Since returning to hard courts, she has been either champion or runner-up at major events including the US Open, WTA Finals, Brisbane, Australian Open, and Indian Wells.

Elena Rybakina, meanwhile, extended her dominance over Jessica Pegula to five straight wins, coming from behind to secure a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in the quarter-finals. It was her first three-set match of the tournament after comfortable wins over Yulia Putintseva, Marta Kostyuk, and Talia Gibson.

Despite earlier exits in Doha and Dubai, Rybakina remains in top form. The 2022 Wimbledon champion captured the Australian Open title this season and finished runner-up at Indian Wells—losing to Sabalenka in both finals.

Head-to-head

Sabalenka leads the rivalry 9-7, though Rybakina has won three of their last five meetings. Their recent encounters have often come in finals, with Rybakina triumphing at the WTA Finals and Australian Open, before Sabalenka edged their latest clash at Indian Wells after saving a championship point.

Stats & Facts

Aryna Sabalenka has been highly consistent at the semi-final stage, posting a 12-3 record since the start of 2025, including wins in her last four appearances.

The world No. 1 has also dominated top-10 opposition, winning 18 of her last 24 such encounters—although Elena Rybakina accounts for three of those defeats.

Rybakina, meanwhile, has an impressive record against reigning world No. 1 players, winning nine of her last 14 matchups, with six of those victories coming against Sabalenka.

She also boasts a perfect record in Miami Open semi-finals (2-0), having gone on to finish as runner-up in both 2023 and 2024.

Betting Analysis

This matchup has become one of the WTA Tour’s most compelling rivalries in recent years. With 16 previous meetings, there are few secrets left between the two.

Sabalenka may hold a slight edge heading into the contest—much like in their recent Indian Wells final, where she edged a tight battle in a deciding-set tiebreak—but the margins remain extremely fine.

Aryna Sabalenka in 2026

Sabalenka has been in dominant form throughout 2026, capturing titles in Brisbane and Indian Wells while also finishing runner-up at the Australian Open. Her performances on outdoor hard courts have been equally impressive, highlighted by those same results.

The world No. 1 boasts a remarkable 21-1 record this season, including a perfect 10-0 run in her last 10 matches. Against top-10 opponents, she has gone 3-1 this year (58-43 career), underlining her consistency at the highest level.

She holds a strong record in big matches, standing 1-0 in WTA 1000 semi-finals this season (14-6 career) and 3-0 overall in semi-finals in 2026 (43-21 career).

Miami Open record
Sabalenka has an 18-6 career record at the Miami Open and arrives as the defending champion, having also lifted the title in 2025.

Road to the semi-finals
After receiving a first-round bye, she defeated Ann Li, Caty McNally, Zheng Qinwen, and Hailey Baptiste in straight sets to reach the last four.

Elena Rybakina in 2026

Rybakina has also enjoyed an outstanding season, winning the Australian Open and finishing runner-up at Indian Wells. Her consistency on outdoor hard courts mirrors those achievements.

She holds a 21-4 record in 2026, including 9-1 in her last 10 matches. Notably, she has been particularly strong against elite opposition, going 6-1 against top-10 players this year (37-28 career).

Rybakina has delivered in key moments, with a 1-0 record in WTA 1000 semi-finals this season (6-6 career) and a perfect 2-0 record in semi-finals in 2026 (24-15 career).

Miami Open record
She owns a 16-5 career record in Miami and has reached the final twice (2023 and 2024), although she exited early last year.

Road to the semi-finals
After a bye, she progressed past Yulia Putintseva, Marta Kostyuk, Talia Gibson, and Jessica Pegula, showing both dominance and resilience along the way.