Swiatek could face Eala while Sabalenka and Rybakina are in the same half of the Miami Open draw.

The new edition of the Miami Open promises to be electrifying, especially after the thrilling showdown between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina in the final of Indian Wells, which left fans ecstatic. Sabalenka, the world number one, saved a championship point in a three-set duel that will be remembered, and now she may have the chance to repeat that epic battle in the semifinals of the tournament in Miami, where she is defending her title.

The draw for the WTA 1000, held last Sunday, places Sabalenka and Rybakina in the same half, creating the possibility of a new clash between the two tennis stars. Rybakina, who will become the new world number two in the WTA rankings next Monday, remains the third seed and is positioned in the upper part of the draw alongside Sabalenka.

Sabalenka is set to face 29th seed Wang Xinyu in the third round, and could meet 15th seed Madison Keys in the fourth round, prior to a potential quarter-final clash against seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, her opponent in last year’s semi-final. Paolini, who is not in her best form in 2026, will have a tough path ahead, potentially facing Jelena Ostapenko in the third round and ninth seed Elina Svitolina in the fourth, a player who has been performing well this year.

On the other hand, Rybakina could face a quarter-final against fifth seed Jessica Pegula, who has previously been defeated by the Kazakh in the semi-finals of the Australian Open and in the quarter-finals of Indian Wells. Rybakina, a two-time finalist in Miami, may encounter 27th seed Marta Kostyuk in the third round, followed by an electrifying match against 16th seed Naomi Osaka in the fourth.

Pegula, for her part, may have a challenge right in the second round against Venus Williams, before a potential third round against 26th seed Leylah Fernandez. The American could also face 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova or 24th seed Emma Raducanu in the fourth round, which could turn into a rematch of the thrilling Miami quarter-final that Pegula won in 2025.

At the bottom of the draw, the second seed and 2022 Miami Open champion, Iga Swiatek, will also be a focal point. She was surprised by Alex Eala in last year’s tournament and could face the young tennis player again in the third round. To do so, Swiatek will have to get past Magda Linette or Varvara Gracheva before a potential rematch with 13th seed Karolina Muchova in the fourth round, and an anticipated quarter-final against eighth seed Mirra Andreeva, or tenth seed Victoria Mboko.

Gauff, the fourth seed, is also seeking redemption after withdrawing from Indian Wells due to injury. The number one player in the U.S. will face a challenging path, with 28th seed Maya Joint in the third round, and 14th seed Linda Noskova, who recently reached the semifinals of Indian Wells, in the fourth round. Gauff and her compatriot, sixth seed Amanda Anisimova, are also in the same quadrant, with Anisimova looking to improve her performance in what has been an inconsistent season so far.

The quarter-finals of the Miami Open are shaping up intriguingly, with matchups that promise to be spectacular. Tennis fans can expect a fierce battle among the world’s best, as each athlete strives to secure their place in the tournament’s history.