Jessica Pegula knocks out teenage sensation to reach Miami Open final

Pegula accomplished a feat only two tennis icons have bettered as she earned a pulsating win against 19-year-old Filipino Eala to reach the final of the WTA 1000 tournament.

In the opening set, Pegula had to battle back from a 2-5 deficit and save a set point before prevailing in a tiebreak.

Eala, the world No. 140 who was competing as a wildcard, made a comeback of her own in the second set as she rallied from 1-3 behind to force a decider.

Pegula crucially converted the only break point of the third set with Eala serving at 3-4, 30-40 as she progressed to her maiden Miami Open final after two hours and 26 minutes.

"I'm so tired, so, so tired," the American said in her on-court interview.

"She's really good. She's a really good tennis player, goes for her shots, takes the ball early, competes really well, she's beaten a lot of top players this week - I don't think she needs me to tell her that she's a great player, that we're not going to see enough of her, we definitely are, and she proved that tonight."

The 31-year-old is into her sixth WTA 1000 final and third since turning 30 as she seeks her fourth crown at this level of event and eighth singles title overall.

Only Serena Williams (16) and Li Na (four) have reached more WTA 1000 finals after their 30th birthday than Pegula since the tournament format was introduced in 2009.

Pegula will face world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final in a rematch of last year's US Open championship match, which the Belarusian won.

Sabalenka, who crushed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2 in the last four in Miami, leads the head-to-head against Pegula 6-2.

Pegula assessed her form heading into her showdown with Sabalenka.

"I do feel like I'm serving a little bit better," Pegula said. "Hopefully I can serve well Saturday. I think that's something you have to do against her. She returns really well.

"I have been returning well, so I always feel like even though she's one of the best servers in the world, I can give myself a chance maybe to break her. But she's tough. She's playing with a lot of confidence. She likes, I think, a little bit quicker hard court, as well, playing one-two punch, playing an aggressive game.

"I had chances at the US Open, up 5-3 in that second set. Who knows what would have happened there. I definitely know I'll get some chances if I play some good tennis hopefully, and I will try to do my best of trying to take advantage of that, and, you know, learning from the last couple of matches."