Anhelina Kalinina beats Aryna Sabalenka, one of four WTA Top 10 players to lose in Miami

By the end of Saturday evening at the Miami Open, four of the WTA’s Top 10 players saw their hopes dashed during a jam-packed stretch of action.

The biggest of all: world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

A day after playing her first match since the shocking death of ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov, Sabalenka went down to Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina. The No. 32 seed prevailed, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, to set up a fourth-round meeting with Yulia Putintseva.

In her opening contest, Kalinina valiantly fought back from match point down to topple Caroline Wozniacki. For Sabalenka, she dropped to 3-3 since successfully defending her Australian Open crown.

Ons Jabeur suffered her fourth consecutive defeat. Ranked No. 6 coming in, the 29-year-old was beaten, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, by Elina Avanesyan. The 21-year-old gets Danielle Collins next.

Jabeur is entered to compete at the WTA 500 green-clay event in Charleston, where she is the reigning champion.

Seventh-ranked Zheng Qinwen was outfoxed by three-time Miami title holder Victoria Azarenka. The No. 27 seed posted a 6-4, 7-5 victory and awaits Katie Boulter. The recent San Diego Open champion ousted 11th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia, 6-2. 6-3.

Dubai finalist Anna Kalinskaya, also a quarterfinalist at this year’s Australian Open, continued her fine 2024 form. The 22nd seed blasted past world No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko, 6-3, 6-1, converting four of her six break points.

Elena Rybakina was also tested but survived the challenge put forth by Taylor Townsend, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3, to line up a clash with 17th seed Madison Keys. Rybakina, who missed Indian Wells with an illness, finished runner-up here last year to Petra Kvitova.