Rybakina battles past Sakkari to set up Azarenka semi-final affair in Miami

Elena Rybakina defeated Maria Sakkari in a gruelling Miami Open quarterfinal on Tuesday, advancing to the final four for the second year in a row.

Rybakina, who will face Victoria Azarenka in the final, took nearly three hours to beat Sakkari. The Greek saved two match points in the second set before succumbing to the fourth seed's dominant serve in the final game of the third set.

"I have no words because I'm so tired," Kazakh Rybakina said.

"It was such a tough battle. I got a little bit lucky with new balls, so it was easier to serve it out ... now, I just need to recover."

Rybakina, the world number four and 2022 Wimbledon champion, will need to be at her best when she faces three-time tournament champion and former world number one Azarenka.

The veteran Belarusian player had to deal with a nearly hour-long stoppage in the first set due to a power outage to the electronic line-calling system before defeating Yulia Putintseva 7-6(4) 1-6 6-3 earlier in the day.

Azarenka saved three set points on her way to winning the first set tiebreak in the 90-minute opener, but her unseeded opponent raised her game in the second to force a decider.

Azarenka proved too solid down the stretch, firing an unreturnable serve on match point.

"Very happy with today's win," the 34-year-old told reporters.

"It's good to be back in the later stages of the tournament, it's what I work for."

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SportsLigue