Aryna Sabalenka secured a swift victory against Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria at the Miami Open on Thursday. The match concluded in just 58 minutes with a score of 6-3, 6-0. Sabalenka demonstrated excellent ball-striking on the Hard Rock Stadium court, successfully breaking Tomova’s serve in six out of seven games.

In the upcoming third round on Saturday, Sabalenka is set to compete against qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Ruse progressed by defeating Magdalena Frech with a score of 6-4, 6-4. This will be the first encounter between Sabalenka and Ruse.

Sabalenka’s season has been notably strong, although with some disappointments. Her current record stands at an impressive 18-4, second only to Mirra Andreeva in match wins this season. She has extended her lead over world No. 2, Iga Swiatek, to over 2,200 points. She started the year by winning a title in Brisbane. However, she faced setbacks in two major finals, losing to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and more recently to 17-year-old Andreeva at Indian Wells.

“I’m satisfied with my season so far,” Sabalenka commented to reporters. “Losing in major finals is always tough, but I see them as learning experiences rather than significant losses. I feel my tennis is constantly improving.”

She added, “Winning the title in Miami is the ultimate goal here for everyone. I hope to maintain the level of play I showed at Indian Wells and perform even better in the finals this time. I need to manage stress and focus more on my own game in the later stages of tournaments. I’m taking it one match at a time.”

Miami holds a special significance for Sabalenka as it is her home. She appreciates the atmosphere and enjoys the comfort of not having to travel extensively. Despite having won seven WTA 1000 titles, none have been in Miami. Her best results in this tournament were reaching the quarterfinals in both 2021 and 2023.

Sabalenka’s aggressive and dynamic style of play has been very effective, contributing to her nearing her 30th consecutive week as the world’s top-ranked player. However, she humorously admits to avoiding watching videos of her own matches on YouTube.

“I love myself, but not to that extent!” she laughed. “Honestly, I can’t watch myself. Seeing myself grunting, yelling, screaming, and throwing racquets makes me think, ‘Oh my God, is that really me?’”

“Indeed, it is – and it will likely continue to be for the foreseeable future.”