Jessica Pegula has continued her superb 2026 season at the Miami Open, where she is now into the quarterfinals.
But standing in her way is Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, while the winner could face world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
In a hugely competitive tournament, their fellow top 10 players Coco Gauff and Victoria Mboko have also reached the Miami Open quarterfinals.
But Pegula faces the very unenviable task of playing Rybakina, which is a match that has arrived slightly too early in the eyes of the American WTA star.
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Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have forced Jessica Pegula to become better
Pegula said of Rybakina on Tennis Channel after knocking out Jaqueline Cristian: “I wish I was playing her later to be honest!
“I think it’s tough having to play Rybakina in the quarters. Is she in the top half as well, with Sabalenka? I am like it’s crazy stacked!
“Maybe I wish I was playing her a little later but I love the challenge.
“To be honest those girls, especially Aryna and Elena, have really pushed me to figure out how to become better at a lot of things.
“I think in a way we have all pushed each other into I need to serve better, be more aggressive and do a lot of things better if I am to beat them at their best.
“I am excited for the challenge to play them again.
“I have had a couple of really close sets with her where I felt I should have at least taken a set, in Australia and Indian Wells, but she has been playing amazing tennis.
“She had a match point in Indian Wells before Aryna came back and they had an incredible match.
“For me they are the top two in as far as when they are playing well they are the best two players in the world.
“But I love the challenge, that is why I play and it always excites me.”
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Jessica Pegula’s record vs Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina
The WTA rankings certainly back up Pegula’s thoughts, with world number one Sabalenka followed immediately by Rybakina.
But the American world number five is well aware that she needs to beat the best to be the best, and she now has a great chance to prove herself against the Kazakhstani star.
History is, however, against Pegula regarding their head-to-head record, which currently stands at 5-3 in favor of Rybakina.
That includes two wins for Rybakina this year alone, which arrived in the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of Indian Wells.
And it is much more worrying for the American when it comes to Sabalenka, who boasts a 9-3 record against her WTA rival.
That dominant record includes a win for the Belarusian in last year’s Miami Open final, which she won 7-5, 6-2.
Fittingly, the top two players have continued their epic rivalry in two finals this season, with Rybakina triumphing at the Australian Open before Sabalenka exacted revenge at Indian Wells.
They also met in the final of the 2025 WTA Finals, which the Kazakhstani star won, although the Belarusian holds a narrow 9-7 head-to-head advantage over her fierce rival.
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