WTA 1000 Miami, Sabalenka beats Paolini and flies to the final

Miami (United States), March 27, 2025 - The first semi-final of the WTA 1000 Miami faces off for the sixth time ever Aryna Sabalenka e Jasmin PaoliniThe Italian player reaches this stage of the tournament Florida, the first Italian to succeed, after having overcome Hon Jabeur (for collection), Naomi Osaka e Madga Linette, while Belarus has so far had the upper hand Elena-Gabriela Ruse (for collection), Danielle Collins e Qinwen Zheng. All 'Hard Rock Stadium he wins with a double 6-2 obtained later 1 hour and 13' of the game number 1 deThe WTA rankings, who will now face the winner of the final between Jessica pegula and the amazing Alexandra Eala.  

First set

  Part of it Sabalenka to the service and does it with a nice drop shot which paolini replies with a great backhand. The balance, thanks to two errors by the Belarusian in smash and backhand, leads immediately to advantages: Sabalenka she cancels the first break point of the match and then manages to save the game also thanks to a long backhand from the Italian. paolini opens with a forehand and flies on 40-0: Sabalenka shortens by taking advantage of a double fault by the Tuscan, who then closes the game. The ranking leader finds the first two aces of the match and signs the 2-1. A very long game follows, in which paolini finds the first ace at deuce after missing a forehand: a mistake that he will repeat with a long backhand that gives away to Sabalenka the first break. The Belarusian misses the smash but redeems herself with an ace and a great backhand drop shot that earns her the 4-1The Italian shortens the gap after a very long game, embellished by a sensational exchange, with a lob of Sabalenka that doesn't hit the mark. The number 1 of the ranking WTA finds the fourth ace but also the first double fault which does not prevent her from closing the matter on 5-2 with a great forehand. paolini serves to stay in the set but immediately opens the game by cashing in a nice response from Sabalenka, who then makes a mistake with her backhand before redeeming herself and taking the game to deuce: the Belarusian comes out on top, having improved enormously in her responses and winning the first set with a score of 6-2 obtained later 37 ' of play.

Second set

  Sabalenka fly immediately on 30-0 before a missed forehand: his backhand is still too difficult to defuse for paolini, who then also cashes in the fifth ace. The Italian closes her game by finding the second winning serve after alternating events with her forehand, between a great number on the counterattack and one that ends up in the net: the set still goes to1-1. paolini he immediately tries to find the break with his forehand first and then with his backhand, but Sabalenka impacts on 40-40 before saving himself at deuce. Deuce that is repeated in the next game, opened by a nice backhand down the line by paolini, who then also finds the third ace and a great forehand which however are not enough to distance Sabalenka, who first finds the line and then, with a forehand, concedes the break that also puts this second set on the downhill track. The Belarusian, first with a serve and forehand and then with a serve and backhand saves the game and flies on 4-1. Then goes to the service paolini, who tries to stay in the match with his backhand, sending the ball back to Sabalenka, who also complicates her life with a double fault before scoring her sixth ace. The Italian serves to stay in the match but immediately goes down by 0-40, offering the Belarusian well 3 match points: the first one doesn't work, while the second one, with a forehand, closes the set on 6-2 after 36 ' of the game and the whole challenge, which is worth the ticket to the final.