Miami, FL
Rybakina beats Mertens in Miami for 11th straight win
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan stored her risk of a Sunshine Double alive with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Belgium’s Elise Mertens within the Miami Open Spherical of 16 on Monday.
No.10 seed Rybakina, who claimed the primary WTA 1000 title of her profession at Indian Wells per week in the past, notched her eleventh straight match-win by defeating Thirty ninth-ranked Mertens in 1 hour and 46 minutes.
Within the quarterfinals, Rybakina will meet No.25 seed Martina Trevisan of Italy, who defeated No.24 seed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 6-3. Rybakina and Trevisan will face off for the primary time as they every search their first Miami Open semifinal.
Learn extra: Pegula beats Linette to return to Miami quarterfinals
Rybakina roll continues: Rybakina provides one other victory to her stirring begin of the season. She has compiled a 2023 win-loss report of 19-4, together with a visit to the Australian Open closing. Rybakina is presently at her career-high rating of World No.7 following her run to the title in Indian Wells.
Rybakina and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka are actually tied for essentially the most match-wins on the Hologic WTA Tour this 12 months with 19 apiece, though Sabalenka may win her twentieth on Monday evening when she faces Barbora Krejcikova.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Rybakina continues to be within the working to drag off the Sunshine Double by successful final week’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back. She needed to stave off one match level in her earlier spherical in opposition to Paula Badosa to get this far.
Match moments: Mertens grabbed the primary service break on Monday, changing her fourth break level of the 3-3 sport. However two double faults by Mertens within the following sport gave Rybakina an opportunity to interrupt proper again, which she took with a putaway within the forecourt.
Rybakina had one other stable return sport at 5-4, the place she held three set factors. On her third alternative, Rybakina used her energy performs to power an error lengthy and seize the primary set from a break down.
Rybakina received one other prolonged sport within the second set, breaking for 2-0 on her fourth break level of that sport by forcing a Mertens lob lengthy with a sturdy volley. That was the ultimate break of the day, with Rybakina erasing the 4 break factors she confronted at 3-1 within the second set.
With the win, Rybakina improved her head-to-head report in opposition to Mertens to 3-1. Rybakina slammed 10 aces within the match and had a complete of 25 winners to 22 unforced errors. Mertens had the identical variety of unforced errors however solely 19 winners.
First WTA 1000 quarterfinal for Trevisan
Earlier, Trevisan booked a spot within the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 occasion for the primary time in her profession along with her win over former Miami Open finalist Ostapenko.
The 29-year-old’s greatest prior consequence at this degree got here final fall in Guadalajara, the place she reached the third spherical. However in her first profession assembly in opposition to the 2017 Roland Garros champion, and her tenth WTA 1000 main-draw look general, Trevisan eased to a 1 hour, 30-minute victory to interrupt new floor.
Highlights: Trevisan def. Ostapenko
Making her main-draw debut in Miami, Trevisan is the primary Italian to get this far within the singles draw on the match in a decade, courting again to when Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci made up 1 / 4 of the final eight in 2013.
“It means rather a lot as a result of I by no means received a match right here,” Trevisan mentioned. “Match after match I am amassing expertise that is serving to me rather a lot, particularly in one of these match if you play in opposition to an necessary participant like Ostapenko. She has a number of expertise, greater than me.”
This week additionally marks the primary time that Trevisan, a semifinalist at Roland Garros final spring, has received three straight matches since her best-ever main end in Paris.
After breaking Ostapenko thrice en path to successful the primary set, Trevisan responded effectively to falling behind 2-0 within the second set. She received 5 straight video games, together with a vital, five-deuce seventh sport the place she saved 4 break factors that might’ve gotten Ostapenko again on serve.
Extra to come back….
Miami, FL
Penn State transfer portal target, Pa. native commits to Miami
Penn State had a successful Saturday, beating SMU in the College Football Playoff first round in convincing fashion. But not everything went the Nittany Lions’ way.
David Blay, one of Penn State’s top targets in the transfer portal, committed to Miami. The news was reported by on3 on Saturday afternoon.
In addition to Penn State and Miami, Blay was also being pursued by Florida State, Illinois, Oklahoma, USC, Wisconsin, Mississippi State and Arkansas.
Blay, a standout at Louisiana Tech who visited last weekend, was a top target for the Nittany Lions as they look to add depth and talent to their defensive line for the 2025 season.
Blay is a Levittown native who played at Harry S. Truman High School outside Philadelphia before going to West Chester to play at the Division II level in 2021 and 2022. Blay transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he was a first-team All-Conference USA selection this year.
Blay finished the 2024 season with 46 tackles, 10 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks.
Penn State has addressed a couple needs in the portal so far in the winter window, earning commitments from USC wide receiver Kyron Hudson and Texas A&M defensive end Enai White. But the Nittany Lions would love to add a defensive tackle or two.
Miami, FL
Miami Heat Sharpshooter Could be Perfect Fit for OKC Thunder
Throughout the season, Oklahoma City has had struggles shooting from outside, and a fix could come through the trade route.
On Friday, the Thunder won their seventh straight regular season game with a 104-97 victory in Miami. The Thunder improved to 22-5 and had one of their best 3-point shooting nights of the season, shooting 14-of-34 from outside.
On the other side, the Thunder might have played against someone who could be a seamless fit. Heat forward Duncan Robinson had a rough shooting night against the Thunder, as most players in the league do, but kept firing for a 3-of-11 night from beyond the arc.
A career 39.7% 3-point shooter, Robinson has hit near that mark again this season while taking well over six attempts per game. Although his defense has been criticized throughout his career, he has shown he can play well enough to stay on the floor and contribute, as seen by his roles in Miami’s 2020 and 2023 Finals runs.
As far as the trade block, the Thunder have already been linked to Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson. While he and Robinson have a similar contract, Johnson has one more year on his deal and makes a bit more money.
While Johnson’s added production makes him clearly the better player and potential target, the Thunder might be able to get Robinson for a much lower price, especially if the Heat begin to shift gears and go through with a Jimmy Butler trade.
In any case, the Thunder would have to send out someone in the rotation. Given what Robinson could bring to the Thunder, players on newly signed extensions, such as Isaiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins, could be the perfect centerpiece of a deal alongside another small contract.
Given their youth, skillsets, and long-term security, either could be a solid piece for the Heat. Meanwhile, this would be a win-now move for the Thunder, losing one of the young wings they’ve developed for a proven playoff performer.
Perhaps the Thunder would be hesitant to make such a deal after the Gordon Hayward trade went south last season. However, Robinson has been in and out of the Heat’s rotation throughout his time with Erik Spoelstra and could adapt to any role the Thunder throw at him.
There might not be a perfect trade for the Thunder, but Robinson could solve some problems and push the Thunder’s shooting into a championship tier.
Want to join the discussion? Like Thunder on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
Miami, FL
Video: Miami QB commit Dereon Coleman comments on loyalty to Canes
Miami 2026 quarterback commit Dereon Coleman comments on alpha mentality, his relationship with offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, and why he remains committed to the Hurricanes after DEFCON 7-on-7 Showcase (try-outs) in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
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