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2025 WTA Miami Open Quarterfinal Recap

The quarterfinals of the 2025 Miami Open on the WTA side has wrapped up, and the semifinal matchups are set.

(No. 1) Aryna Sabalenka def. (No. 9) Qinwen Zhang 6-2, 7-5

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka reached her first career Miami Open semifinal with a 6-2, 7-5 win over No. 9 seed Qinwen Zheng. Sabalenka dominated the first set but had to come back from down 2-4 in the second when Zheng broke her serve three consecutive times. Sabalenka saved three break points at 0-40 to hold serve for 4-4. She then broke Zheng’s serve at 6-5 and closed out the match with a hold.

Sabalenka’s return game was key, as she won 29 of Zheng’s 35 second-serve points (83%) and had seven breaks in total. The win also extended Sabalenka’s perfect head-to-head record against Zheng to 6-0. She will face No. 6 Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals.

(No. 6) Jasmine Paolini def. Magda Linette 6-3, 6-2

No. 6 Jasmine Paolini advanced to her first Miami Open semifinal with a straight-sets win over unseeded Magda Linette. Paolini also made history by becoming the first Italian woman to reach the semifinals in Miami.

Before this tournament, Paolini had struggled in 2025, failing to make a quarterfinal in any event and losing in the Round of 16 at all three previous WTA 1000 tournaments—Doha, Dubai, and Indian Wells. However, she breaks through in Miami, aiming for her second career WTA 1000 title. Paolini’s first WTA 1000 title came last year in Dubai, which helped propel her into the year-end Top 5. Paolini will face World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.

Alexandra Eala def. (No. 2) Iga Switek 6-2, 7-5

In one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, 19-year-old Alexandra Eala stunned five-time Grand Slam champion and second seed Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 to secure her spot in the Miami Open semifinals. Eala, a wildcard and the only player representing the Philippines on the WTA Tour, entered the tournament ranked No. 140 in the world. She had never defeated a top-40 player before this event but has recorded impressive wins over 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who is ranked No. 5.

Swiatek struggled with consistency, committing 19 unforced errors in the first set and 13 in the second. Eala’s relentless aggression and precision pressured Swiatek, forcing her to play defensively throughout.

Swiatek served for the second set at 5-4 but failed to hold with multiple forehand errors, allowing Eala to regain momentum. The teenager was able to maintain her composure and close out the match. Eala will now face No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.

(No. 4) Jessica Pegula def. Emma Raducanu 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2

No. 4 Jessica Pegula secured her spot in the Miami Open semifinals for the third time in four years with a three set 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 win over Emma Raducanu. Pegula took the first set and had opportunities to close out the match in straight sets but was unable to capitalize. Despite falling behind 2-5 in the second set, Pegula saved four set points and forced a tiebreak. However, Raducanu dominated the tiebreak 7-3 to force a deciding set.

In the third set, Pegula regained control, breaking Raducanu’s serve early and maintaining her lead to close out the match. Pegula will now face Alexandra Eala, the teenage wildcard from the Philippines, in the semifinals.

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