Aryna Sabalenka clinched her first Miami Open final appearance with a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 victory over sixth seed Jasmine Paolini at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday.

Sabalenka, who had never previously gone as far as the last four at the Florida event, maintained her record of not dropping a set at this year's competition.

In fact, the world number one did not drop serve in just 71 minutes on court in the semi-finals, with her power from the baseline proving too much for Paolini to handle.

Sabalenka never trailed at any stage of the match and was only on level terms early in both sets at 1-1. In the opener, she never looked back after breaking in a three-deuce fourth game, converting her first set point on Paolini's serve in the eighth game.

The second set, in which Sabalenka went from a 74% success rate behind her first serve to 76%, followed exactly the same pattern.

Another hard-fought break in the fourth game got Sabalenka ahead, and she saved one of her best points for last, thrashing a forehand into the corner of the court to leave Paolini helpless in the eighth game.

The three-time grand slam winner will face either fourth seed Jessica Pegula or wild card Alexandra Eala in the final.

4 - In the last 10 years, only Serena Williams in 2016 (5) has more finals than Sabalenka in 2025 (4) after their first six tournaments played during that season. Form. #MiamiOpen | @MiamiOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/3NOENPiN3Z

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 27, 2025

Data debrief: Sabalenka leads the way

Sabalenka's victory was her 22nd at WTA events in 2025, taking her clear of Iga Swiatek (21) for the most of any player outright.

She has also reached four finals in just six WTA events this year.

In the last 10 years, only Serena Williams in 2016 (five) has made more showpiece matches through the first six events of a season.

And after losing to Mirra Andreeva in the Indian Wells final, she is just the sixth woman in the last 20 years to make the final at Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.

The other players to do so were Kim Clijsters (2005), Maria Sharapova (2006, 2012 and 2013), Victoria Azarenka (2016), Swiatek (2022) and Elena Rybakina (2023).