Aryna Sabalenka stormed to a dominant straight-sets victory over Caty McNally to reach the last 16 at the Miami Open.

After an even start to the match, Sabalenka eventually pulled clear to claim a 6-4 6-2 victory in one hour and 26 minutes.

Sabalenka raced into a 4-2 lead in the first set, but she was soon pegged back as McNally clawed her way back to 4-4.

However, Sabalenka took control from there in a testy ninth game, needing six deuces to hold serve after coming back from 15-30, and went on to take the first set.

In fact, the world number one won eight of the final 10 games, cruising into the next round by reeling off each of the last four.

Sabalenka will face Zheng Qinwen in the round of 16, and the Belarusian is wary of the threat posed to her.

"I'll focus on myself. I'll focus on my game," she said of her next match. "I'll try to stay focused from the first point 'til the last.

"She's [Zheng] an incredible player. We played a lot of matches. I have a good record against her, but it doesn't say anything. It's always tough battles.

"I'm always looking forward to play her. It's always a fight, and I really enjoy it."

A dominant display @SabalenkaA battles through in straight sets against McNally 6-4, 6-2 to reach the round of 16 in Miami!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/zKO6rAS7wm

— wta (@WTA) March 23, 2026

Zheng, who is finding her form again after returning from a major elbow injury, had to come from behind to earn her place in the last 16, besting Madison Keys in three sets.

She bounced back to win 4-6 6-2 6-4 in two hours and 17 minutes.

Since the tournament's inception in 1985, only Na Li (five) has made more round of 16 appearances at the Miami Open than Zheng (three, equalling Jie Zheng) among Chinese players. 

Data Debrief: Straight to the point

Since 1989, Sabalenka has become just the third WTA  number one to claim 14 consecutive women's singles match wins in Indian Wells and Miami, after Monica Seles and Serena Williams.

She has also claimed an 18th match win in straight sets at WTA level in 2026 – only Elina Svitolina (20) and Elena Rybakina (19) have claimed more match wins overall this season.