Elena Rybakina overcame a set deficit to defeat Jessica Pegula 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Miami Open quarterfinals on March 26, 2026. Both players had heated mid-match exchanges with their coaches, with Rybakina shouting at Stefano Vukov, 'You see, it doesn’t work! What are you talking about?!' The World No. 2 advances to face Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.
Elena Rybakina, the World No. 2 known as the 'Ice Queen' for her composure, showed uncharacteristic frustration in her Miami Open quarterfinal against Jessica Pegula. After dropping the opening set 2-6 amid early struggles, Rybakina turned to her coaching box and yelled at Stefano Vukov, 'You see, it doesn’t work! What are you talking about?!' The moment, captured in footage shared on social media on March 25, briefly charged the atmosphere.
Rybakina quickly refocused, dominating from the second set. She held every service game, saved four break points—including a set point—and built leads through extended rallies. Pegula, trailing 2-5 in the second set while serving to stay in it, vented to coaches Mark Knowles and Mark Merklein: 'She does the same thing every f****** time,' gesturing to her head to show Rybakina's mental edge. Knowles encouraged her, while Merklein offered tactical advice on returns, but Pegula couldn't recover. In the decider, Rybakina broke early for 3-1, held firm, and closed out 6-4.
Sky Sports commentator Jonathan Overend apologized on air for Pegula's language, noting, 'Pegula seriously rattled... Rybakina has completely got into her head.'
This win bolsters Rybakina's Miami record, where she reached finals in 2023 (lost to Petra Kvitova) and 2024 (lost to Danielle Collins). Next, she rematches Sabalenka, who won their Indian Wells final this season; Rybakina trails by over 2,000 WTA points.
Tensions with Vukov are recurring: Last month at Dubai, Rybakina retired mid-match against Antonia Ruzic (5-7, 6-4, 1-0) citing leg pain, nausea, tiredness, and poor sleep after gesturing disagreements. Similar issues surfaced in the 2026 Australian Open final.
