Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini was armed with a Yonex racquet bag as she walked out on court.
An oxygen tank would have been an appropriate ally.
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Aryna Sabalenka transformed Hard Rock Stadium into a suffocating stage sweeping Paolini 6-2, 6-2 to power into her maiden Miami Open final.
In a semifinal statement, Sabalenka slammed 31 winners against 12 unforced errors and did not drop serve in a one-sided, one-hour, 11-minute triumph.
“I think it was definitely one of the best matches. I think I played really incredible,” Sabalenka told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “I think I played an incredible match. I’m super happy I focused on my serve and super happy with my movement today.
“It was a great performance by me. It’s always tough battles against her.”
Indeed, Paolini did not play poorly, pumping 19 winners against nine errors. The Italian earned four break points, but could not convert as Sabalenka imposed her strongest tennis amid break-point pressure.
World No. 1 Sabalenka has swept defending champion Danielle Collins, Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen and French Open finalist Paolini advancing to her 12th career WTA 1000 final.
Sabalenka will face either Jessica Pegula, in what would be a rematch of the 2024 US Open final, or 140th-ranked wild card Alexandra Eala in Saturday’s 3 p.m. final.
Before a festive afternoon crowd that included rock star Jon Bon Jovi, Sabalenka hit all the right notes in a commanding performance to improve to a Tour-best 22-4 on the season.
The reigning US Open champion will play for her 19th career championship on Saturday.
After saving break point in the opening game, Sabalenka amped up the pace and depth of her drives to push Paolini back behind the baseline.
The 2024 year-end No. 4 tried combating the Belarusian’s superior power taking the ball on the rise.
The challenge for the 5’4” Italian was repeatedly repelling those jolting drives coming at her. A fine volleyer, Paolini betrayed her cause bumping a routine forehand volley into net to face a break point in the fourth game.
Turning her shoulders into her two-hander, Sabalenka hit a crosscourt return battering out the break for a 3-1 lead.
When Paolini tried to drop back behind the baseline and afford herself more response time, Sabalenka tormented her with touch. Dipping a couple of drop shot winners, Sabalenka stretched her lead to 4-1.
Crunching a pair of backhand drives down the line, Sabalenka broke again to snatch a one-set lead.
Sabalenka served 84 percent and won 16 of 21 first-serve points in the 36-minute opener.
The top seed scorched Paolini with that backhand bolt down the line. Sabalenka hit 17 winners against seven errors in the first set.
Repeating her ruthless run, Sabalenka again stormed out to a 4-1 lead in the second set.
The top seed saved a couple of break points holding for 5-2. Ripping a return winner brought Sabalenka triple match point. One final forehand flash down the line sent Sabalenka into her maiden Miami Open final.