Sabalenka powers past Krejcikova into Miami quarter-finals
Aryna Sabalenka beat Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday night and will face Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the next round
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 26, 2023 Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her semi final match against Poland’s Magda Linette (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)
Aryna Sabalenka came up one win short of the BNP Paribas Open title, but she is looking like the Miami Open favourite — especially with Iga Swiatek not participating.
Sabalenka continued to roll at the second leg of the Sunshine Double, as she took care of Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-2 to conclude fourth-round action on Monday night. The Belarusian, who lost to Elena Rybakina in the Indian Wells final, needed just one hour and six minutes to secure her quarter-final spot.
Sabalenka, ranked No 2, will play Romanian Sorana Cirstea next.
Earlier in the tournament she beat American Shelby Rogers (6-4, 6-3) and Czech Marie Bouzkova, the No 31 seed (6-1, 6-2).
Krejcikova, ranked No 13, advanced to the last 32 by defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich (6-3, 6-2) and American Madison Keys, the No 19 seed (7-6(4), 6-3).
Miami WTA 1000, other fourth-round results:
- Ekaterina Alexandrova (18) beat Bianca Andreescu: 7-6, 0-2 ret.
- Petra Kvitova (15) beat Varvara Gracheva (Q): 7-5, 7-6 (5)
- Elena Rybakina (10) beat Elise Mertens: 6-4, 6-3
- Sorana Cirstea beat Marketa Vondrousova: 7-6 (3), 6-4
- Jessica Pegula (3) beat Magda Linette (20): 6-1, 7-5
- Anastasia Potapova (27) beat Qinwen Zheng (23): 6-4, 7-6 (4)
- Martina Trevisan (25) beat Jelena Ostapenko (24): 6-3, 6-3