Sabalenka Seeks Redemption in Miami After Indian Wells Heartbreak
After a gut-wrenching loss in the Indian Wells final, Aryna Sabalenka is still searching for her second singles title of 2025. The 26-year-old came close earlier this month but fell short against Mirra Andreeva in a dramatic 6-2, 4-6, 3-6 defeat.
Despite the loss, reaching the final was a confidence booster for Sabalenka, who had failed to progress beyond the round of 16 in her previous two tournaments. Now, she has a chance to turn the tide in Miami, a tournament where she has historically struggled.
A History to Rewrite
Sabalenka will be looking to erase past disappointments at the Miami Open, where she was knocked out in the third round three times in her six previous appearances. Last year, she suffered a round of 32 exit to Anhelina Kalinina (4-6, 6-1, 1-6). Surprisingly, despite her status as a three-time Grand Slam champion, she has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in Miami.
However, she is known for strong tournament starts—winning 18 of her last 19 opening-round matches at WTA events, with her only early loss coming at the Qatar Open against Ekaterina Alexandrova earlier this year.
Key Stats & Performance
- Matches played in 2025: 21
- Aces: 65
- First-serve percentage: 64.5%
While her serve remains a weapon, Sabalenka will need to sharpen her efficiency as she faces Viktoriya Tomova, who comes into this clash with a clean and disciplined game.
Tomova’s Challenge
Viktoriya Tomova navigated a tricky opening-round match against Caty McNally (6-3, 2-6, 6-3) with zero double faults, a significant improvement given that she has already committed 38 double faults in 2025.
- Aces in 2025: 8
- First-serve winning percentage: 61.8%
- Break point conversion rate: 36.3%
While Tomova doesn’t possess a powerful serve, she thrives on consistency and clean play. She now has the opportunity to win back-to-back matches at a WTA event for the first time since the Transylvania Open, where she reached the quarter-finals before losing to Katerina Siniakova.
To pull off an upset against Sabalenka, Tomova will need to step up her return game, particularly on break points, where she has struggled so far this year.
Tournament So Far
Viktoriya Tomova – First Round:
✅ Def. Caty McNally (6-3, 2-6, 6-3)
With Sabalenka seeking redemption and Tomova aiming for a breakthrough, this clash promises to be an intriguing battle of power vs. precision.
