Ashlyn Krueger caused a major upset at the Miami Open, achieving her first career victory against a Top 10 player by defeating No. 7 seed Elena Rybakina 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a match lasting 1 hour and 50 minutes.

The World No. 40, who had previously lost all sets in six encounters with Top 10 opponents, overcame an impressive streak of 22 consecutive service points won by Rybakina. Starting from 5-3, 30-15 in the first set and continuing until 1-0 in the third, the two-time Miami finalist didn’t lose a single point on her serve, including all 16 points in the second set.

However, Krueger also possesses a strong serve. Fans have long noted the similarities between the two players, even calling the 20-year-old American ‘Baby Rybakina.’ Both are tall – Krueger at 6-foot-1 and Rybakina at 6-foot-0 – and their game is built on powerful, clean hitting. And, of course, those serves.

Speaking to the press after the match, Krueger laughed when she heard about the nickname. She admitted she wasn’t aware of it before, suggesting she might be less involved in online tennis discussions. However, she acknowledged the reasons for the comparison.

‘Big serves, big returns,’ she said, describing their playing styles on the court. ‘I knew there wouldn’t be many long rallies. So it was about serves, first strikes – who could dominate the point earlier.’

Despite Rybakina’s service run, Krueger’s serve proved more effective overall. She won 81% of her first-serve points compared to Rybakina’s 67%. Krueger also managed to elevate her game in crucial moments towards the end of the match. She broke Rybakina’s service streak at 1-1 in the deciding set, and shortly after hit a fantastic forehand winner to maintain pressure.

Krueger mentioned she wasn’t even conscious of Rybakina’s 22-point service streak during the match. She learned about it during the press conference and laughed again upon hearing it.

‘I knew she was serving well, so … I just tried my best to get the ball back in play,’ she explained.

Two games later, she broke Rybakina’s serve for the first time since the opening set – a lead that turned out to be decisive, especially after Krueger saved the only break point she faced in the third set to go ahead 5-3.

Krueger has been progressing towards this victory over the first two months of the season. She started 2025 with consecutive WTA 500 quarterfinal appearances in Brisbane and Adelaide, followed by reaching her first WTA 500 final in Abu Dhabi in February. She has now achieved a career-high ranking and is excited to continue her strong performance on home ground.

‘It just proves that the hard work I’ve been putting in is truly meaningful and is coming together on the court, and that’s all I can ask for,’ she said. Her next opponent will be No. 26 seed Leylah Fernandez, who recovered from a 5-3 deficit in the first set to defeat Alycia Parks 7-6(1), 6-3. Krueger has won two out of three matches against Fernandez, including a thrilling quarterfinal victory in Abu Dhabi 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.