Nothing to declare!

Aryna Sabalenka began the defense of her title with a solid but hard-fought win over Ann Li (7-6, 6-4), proving that she knows how to handle the pressure even when her tennis isn’t fully dialed in yet. Historically, the world No. 1 loves Florida, where she has already completed the “Sunshine Double” in doubles in the past and is coming off a high-flying semifinal in 2021 before her recent triumph. Across the net, Caty McNally capitalized on a controlled first-round performance against Rebeka Masarova to earn herself this marquee showdown. The American, often comfortable in front of her home crowd but limited in singles in Miami (early exits in 2019 and 2025), will have to play the match of her life just to be competitive.

On paper, it’s a clash between two different worlds: on one side, Sabalenka’s devastating firepower, fresh off a title in Indian Wells and brimming with unshakable confidence; on the other, a McNally who is talented in doubles but lacks the weapons to cope with such a relentless baseline tempo. The numbers are merciless: Sabalenka dominates the field with a serve that has become a weapon of mass destruction and an ability to overwhelm any defense from the very first strike. McNally, despite all her flair at the net, is likely to find herself constantly on the back foot, enduring the full force of the Belarusian, who will probably not give her any time to breathe.