Miami Open 2026: Sabalenka, Rybakina and Zheng Advance to Round of 16

The Miami Open witnessed a compelling mix of expected progress and surprising upsets on Sunday, as several top players secured their spots in the Round of 16. Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and Elena Rybakina continued their strong campaigns, while Qinwen Zheng delivered a standout performance by overcoming a tough challenge from Madison Keys.

Sabalenka, Pegula, and Rybakina Cruise Through

Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off her victory at Indian Wells earlier in the month, maintained her winning momentum with a dominant performance. Jessica Pegula, last year’s runner-up to Sabalenka, also showcased her prowess, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour. Third seed Elena Rybakina secured her place in the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Marta Kostyuk.

Zheng Upsets Keys in Three Sets

Qinwen Zheng produced one of the most notable results of the day, battling back to defeat Madison Keys. This victory marks Zheng’s first win over a top-20 ranked player since recovering from an elbow injury that sidelined her for much of the 2025 season. Keys had previously defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-0, 6-3 in her opening match at the Miami Open. Their previous encounter at the 2023 Washington Open saw Keys emerge victorious with a 7-5, 6-1 win, but Zheng avenged that loss on Sunday.

Ostapenko and Baptiste Also Advance

Jelena Ostapenko, the 2018 Miami Open runner-up, demonstrated resilience, fighting back from a set down to defeat Jasmine Paolini 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. American Hailey Baptiste also secured a spot in the next round with a 6-3, 7-5 win over ninth-seeded Elina Svitolina.

Looking Ahead

Rybakina will next face Australian qualifier Talia Gibson, who upset 18th seed Iva Jovic 6-2, 6-2. Gibson previously defeated Naomi Osaka in the second round. The winner of the Keys and Zheng match is likely to face world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. Ostapenko will face Baptiste in her next match.