Women’s quarterfinal matchups
03.24.26
By Harvey Fialkov / Staff writer
Why Sabalenka: Arguably the best hard-court player on Tour with 20 of her titles on that surface. She won this tournament last year and hasn’t dropped a set in her three previous matches. Coming off a title at Indian Wells and shooting for the Sunshine Double.
Why Baptiste: Late-bloomer features similar power to Sabalenka and loves to aggressively charge the net. She lacks experience in big matches but is playing with confidence and with a nothing-to-lose attitude.
| Aryna Sabalenka vs, | Hailey Baptiste | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank: | 1 | 45 |
| Seed: | 1 | Unseeded |
| Country: | Belarus | USA |
| Age: | 27 | 24 |
| Career Titles: | 23 (4 Grand Slams) | None |
| 2026 Titles: | Indian Wells, Brisbane | None |
| Year-to-date-record: | 20-1 | 10-6 |
| Miami Open record: | 13-6 (2025 title) | 6-5 |
| Career Ernings: | $47,875,138 | $2,903,972 |
| Head-to-Head | No Meetings |
During the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 23, 2026 in Miami Gardens (Photo by Kelly Gavin/South Florida Stadium)
Why Rybakina? She hasn’t dropped a set and hasn’t allowed more than four games in any of them. She’s only been broken once while saving 6-of-7 breakpoints. She leads the Tour in aces.
Why Pegula? She is considered one of the three best hard-court players on Tour, along with Rybakina and Sabalenka. Pegula, a long-time resident of Boca Raton, loves this event, having reached the finals last year and the semis in 2022 and 2023. Rybakina beat her in the 2023 semis. She has broken Rybakina eight times in their last three meetings. Pegula won Dubai last month.
| Elena Rybakina vs, | Jessica Pegula | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank: | 2 | 5 |
| Seed: | 3 | 5 |
| Country: | Kazakhstan | USA |
| Age: | 26 | 32 |
| Career Titles: | 12 (2 Grand Slams) | 10 |
| 2026 Titles: | Australian Open | Dubai |
| Year-to-date-record: | 20-4 | 19-3 |
| Miami Open record: | 15-5 | 21-6 |
| Career Ernings: | $27,875,819 | $23,610,578 |
| Head-to-Head | Rybakina leads 5-3 overall; 4-3 on hard courts, including both meetings this year at Indian Wells (QFs) and Australian Open (SFs). |
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About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2026 Miami Open presented by Itaú will be played March 15 – March 29 at Hard Rock Stadium. The 15-day event is owned and operated by MARI and Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a WTA 1000 event on the WTA calendar, and annually hosts the world’s best players, with recent champions including the top players in each tour’s rankings – Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. In 2025, the tournament attracted more than 400,000 spectators over its 15 days at Hard Rock Stadium. Widely regarded as the most glamorous stop on the ATP and WTA calendars, the Miami Open is defined by the city’s vibrant culture, nightlife, five-star dining and hospitality, iconic beaches, and celebrity appeal, along with its close proximity to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
About Itaú Unibanco
The largest bank in Latin America, Itaú Unibanco operates in 18 countries and serves more than 70 million customers, including individuals and companies across a wide range of segments. With the purpose of strengthening financial well-being, the bank supports customers at different stages of life by offering solutions tailored to their needs, as well as innovation and information that encourage more conscious decision-making and a healthier relationship with money.
In sports, Itaú has maintained a consistent presence in tennis for 50 years, supporting the development of the sport in Brazil and worldwide across multiple fronts — from talent development to the sponsorship of major international events — as part of its strategy to strengthen customer relationships, build brand relevance, and broaden access to sport.
About MARI
MARI is a global events and experiences company with a portfolio of some of the world’s most influential live properties across sport, art, lifestyle, and entertainment. From international tennis tournaments such as the Mutua Madrid Open and the Miami Open presented by Itaú to Frieze, a leading voice in contemporary art, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, TodayTix Group’s leadership in digital ticketing, and Barrett-Jackson’s leading collector car auctions, MARI’s portfolio reflects a shared ambition: to deliver live experiences that bring people together, inspire audiences and shape culture worldwide.
About Hard Rock Stadium
Hard Rock Stadium is a global entertainment destination and curator of world-class events. The best-in-class venue is home to the Miami Dolphins, University of Miami Hurricanes football team, the Capital One Orange Bowl, Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, Miami Open presented by Itaú, major concerts, the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and FIFA World Cup 2026™. Due to its overall sustainability efforts, the multifunctional venue holds Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation rating. For more information, visit hardrockstadium.com.
