Collins defeats Alexandrova in Miami to reach first WTA 1000 final; Rybakina prevails against Azarenka

American tennis player Danielle Collins has secured her spot in her first WTA 1000 final after defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Miami Open. The unseeded player, who reached the 2022 Australian Open final, will face No.4 seed Elena Rybakina for the title on Saturday.

Collins, aiming to become the first unseeded champion in Miami since 2005, only needed 75 minutes to defeat Alexandrova. She is the first American to reach the Miami final since Sloane Stephens in 2018 and joins a select group of American finalists at the tournament in recent years.

On the other side of the draw, Rybakina advanced to her fourth final of the season after a tough battle against Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals. The World No.4 player has already claimed titles in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, and reached the Miami final last year.

Rybakina is looking to go one step further this time after falling short in the final last year. She joins an elite group of players to make back-to-back Miami finals in the last decade, showcasing her dominance on the hard courts. The stage is set for an exciting final showdown between Collins and Rybakina at Hard Rock Stadium.