WORLD number one Ash Barty is through to the 2021 Miami Open final after defeating fifth seed Elina Svitolina in straight sets. The Australian talent took one hour and 27 minutes to shake off the Ukrainian and advance through to the decider, continuing her run of good form this year after reaching a quarter final at the Australian Open.

Barty served up seven aces to two, and while she only served at a 46.2 per cent efficiency, she did win two thirds of her first serve points, and 54.3 per cent of her second serve points. By contrast, Svitolina had a much higher efficiency at 61.9 per cent, but only won 48.7 and 41.7 per cent of her first and second serve respectively. While Svitolina did break twice from seven chances, while Barty brought up 14 break point chances and converted five of them.

“Every time you’re on the court you’re able to improve, try to get a little bit better and grow every single day,” Barty said post-match. “And I think that’s come with every single match. Every single match I feel like I’ve done something a little bit better and that’s all you can ask. Just try to get that little bit better, that one percent that half-percent just trying to do things right each day.”

At the time of publishing, 11th seed Bianca Andreescu was set to take on 23rd seed Maria Sakkari in the other semi-final.

WTA MIAMI OPEN SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

[1] Ash Barty (AUS) defeated [5] Elina Svitolina (UKR) 6-3 6-3
[11] Bianca Andreescu (CAN) [23] Maria Sakkari (GRE)

Hubert Hurkacz reached a semi-final on the back of a huge upset win over second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, coming from behind to win 2-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes. The Polish star fell behind early, but then turned it around with 15 aces to seven, and one and three double faults. The serving efficiency was fairly even, with the Greek second seed topping the first serve points won, 70 to 65 per cent, whilst Hurkacz won 53 to 43 per cent in the second serve.

“It is so big [to be in my first Masters 1000 semi-final], especially in front of the crowd here in Miami,” Hurkacz said post-match. “It is a super big win for me and I can’t wait for the next match.

“I was trying to keep fighting and that’s what I did. “[I am] super pumped and happy that I was able to turn this match around.”

At the time of publishing, fourth seed Russian Andrey Rublev was on court against unseeded American Sebastian Korda in the other quarter final.

ATP MIAMI OPEN QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[26] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) defeated [2] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 2-6 6-3 6-4
[4] Andrey Rublev (RUS) vs. Sebastian Korda (USA)

Picture credit: Getty Images