“It’s definitely super tough,” Sabalenka said after defeating Cheng Khin Wen in Munda. “The Grand Slams are two weeks. These tournaments are, four weeks, almost four weeks. Four weeks of playing good tennis in different conditions, it’s really tricky and tough. It’s not easy at all.”
Sabalenka likes to set lofty goals, but the world No. 1 said she is doing her best to achieve them one step at a time. She will face rising American Haley Baptiste in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
Batiste reached the WTA 1000 quarterfinals for the first time on Monday, defeating Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-4.
“I mean, I kind of like the chase, but I was trying to take a step and not really look that far ahead,” Sabalenka said. “I think that’s the best way to do it. But it’s definitely not easy.”
Sabalenka, now 20-1 on the year, will look to maintain her nine-match winning streak in her next match.
Four women have won the Sunshine Tags before, with the last one to win the Sunshine Tags being Iga Swiatek in 2022.
| player | Year | Indian Wells Final | miami final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steffi Graf | 1994 | d. Kuze | d. Zvereva |
| Steffi Graf | 1996 | d. C. Martinez | d. Rubin |
| Kim Clijsters | 2005 | d. Bench | d.Sharapova |
| Victoria Azarenka | 2016 | d. S. Williams | d.Kuznetsova |
| Iga Swiatek | 2022 | d.Sakkari | d.Osaka |
In other action on Monday, Coco Gauff defeated Sorana Sistia in three sets in Miami to reach her first career quarterfinals.
“I think I’ve been through some tough games in my previous years here,” Goff said. “Maybe not mentally there. Today I just want to be there mentally.”
Victoria Mboko beat junior and sometimes doubles partner Mirra Andreeva for the second time in a row, 7-6(4) 4-6 6-0, and set up a clash with Karolina Muchova, who beat Alexandra Eala 6-0, 6-2.
Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina will also face off in the quarter-finals. Rybakina defeated Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 6-1, and Rybakina defeated Australian talented player Talia Gibson 6-2, 6-2.
