Elena Rybakina staged a comeback to defeat Jessica Pegula and advance to the Miami Open semi-finals, extending her winning streak against the American.

WORLD number two Elena Rybakina fought back from a set down to overcome Jessica Pegula 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Miami Open quarter-finals.

The reigning Australian Open champion secured her fifth consecutive victory over the fifth-seeded American.

Rybakina admitted the matches against Pegula are always very difficult. She said Pegula started playing well, and she was a bit rushing and frustrated, but was happy to have managed to bounce back and turn it around in the second set.

Pegula, who won the Dubai title last month, raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. She sealed the first set in just 35 minutes.

Rybakina held serve in the fifth game of the second set despite missing three overhead smashes. She then broke Pegula’s serve for a 4-2 lead to force a decisive third set.

The Kazakh broke Pegula immediately in the third set to take command. She closed out the match after two hours and 15 minutes on court.

Rybakina, who fired 12 aces, said the early break in the final set helped her a little bit. She added that they were just fighting in that third set.

Rybakina could face world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals. Sabalenka, the defending champion, was scheduled to play American Hailey Baptiste later.

Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in this year’s Australian Open final. That remains Sabalenka’s only loss this season, which she avenged by beating Rybakina in the Indian Wells final earlier this month.

In men’s action, 21st-seeded Jiri Lehecka ended the run of Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce 7-6 (7/1), 7-5. Lehecka said the match was super tough against an opponent who had nothing to lose.

He praised Landaluce for playing incredibly and hitting unbelievable shots in crucial moments. Lehecka finally secured the first break of the match in the final game to seal his victory.

 The Sun Malaysia