Elena RYBAKINA secures hard-fought victory, dispatching persistent Taylor TOWNSEND to advance in Miami Open

Elena Rybakina (No. 4) continues her winning streak at the Miami Open with a hard-fought victory over Taylor Townsend (No. 72), prevailing 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-4. The Kazakh player has been dealing with injuries over the past month, forcing her to withdraw before the quarterfinals of the Dubai Open and just before her debut in Indian Wells. However, she has already advanced to the fourth round of the Miami Open.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion faced a tough challenge in the second set but managed to overcome the local player. Rybakina, a finalist in 2023, secured her 60th WTA 1000 victory and will face the 17th seed Madison Keys.

In the first set, Townsend showed more confidence with her serve and created the first break opportunities but couldn't convert them. Both players had strong service games, and it seemed like the set would be decided by small margins. Rybakina broke Townsend's serve in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead and closed out the set 6-3 on her serve.

Despite Townsend's solid performance, Rybakina appeared stronger physically and more effective in rallies as the set progressed. Townsend won 59% of the points on her serve, while Rybakina won 73% of her service games.

In the second set, both players continued to serve well. Townsend won 16 of the first 17 points on her serve, while Rybakina dropped only two of her first 14 service points. However, Rybakina faltered in the eighth game, allowing Townsend to break her serve and take a 5-3 lead. Despite facing pressure, Rybakina managed to break back, leveling the set and forcing a tie-break. The tie-break saw opportunities for both players, with Townsend even holding a set point before Rybakina eventually prevailed, taking the match to a decisive third set.

Like the rest of the match, neither player could gain a clear advantage over the other. Rybakina initially took the lead with an early break, but Townsend quickly leveled the score in the following game. The American showcased an impressive level of tennis, far exceeding her No. 73 ranking, and remained competitive against the former Wimbledon champion.

With the score at 5-4, Rybakina had a break opportunity, which she capitalized on to secure a hard-fought victory by 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-4, advancing to the fourth round of the tournament where she will face the 17th seed Madison Keys.