Sabalenka Completes Sunshine Double with Miami Open Victory Over Gauff
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Aryna Sabalenka cemented her status as the dominant force in women’s tennis, completing the “Sunshine Double” with a hard-fought 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final on Saturday. The win marks Sabalenka’s third title of the season and further solidifies her position as the world No. 1.
The Belarusian star, who also triumphed at Indian Wells earlier this month, became the fifth woman in history to achieve the Sunshine Double – winning both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year. Steffi Graf (1994, 1996), Kim Clijsters (2005), Victoria Azarenka (2016), and Iga Swiatek (2022) are the only other players to accomplish the feat. Sabalenka now equals Swiatek’s tally of 11 WTA 1000 titles.
The match, played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, showcased a compelling contrast in styles. Sabalenka’s aggressive power game proved decisive, particularly in the first and third sets, as she consistently overwhelmed Gauff with sizzling groundstrokes. The victory was Sabalenka’s 24th win of the year against just one loss – a narrow defeat to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final. She avenged that loss by defeating Rybakina in both the Indian Wells final and the Miami Open semi-finals.
Gauff, the fourth-ranked American, battled valiantly, demonstrating the resilience that has grow a hallmark of her game. She managed to disrupt Sabalenka’s rhythm in the second set, securing a break and ultimately taking the set 6-4. Although, Sabalenka’s experience and unwavering intensity proved too much to overcome in the deciding set.
A Test of Resilience
The second set proved to be a turning point in the match. Gauff dug deep, saving multiple break points at 2-2 and 3-3 to stay within striking distance. Sabalenka, visibly frustrated, committed several unforced errors in the final game of the set, allowing Gauff to seize the momentum. Gauff found a new level of depth on her returns, forcing Sabalenka to defend aggressively.
“I know Coco well, I knew she wasn’t going to give me this final easily,” Sabalenka said after the match, as reported by Tennis Channel. “I knew she was going to fight, run everywhere, bring back every ball. I missed some opportunities in that second set, but I wanted to stay positive looking towards the third.”
Sabalenka’s ability to reset and regain control in the third set was a testament to her mental fortitude. She reasserted her dominance with powerful serving and aggressive baseline play, breaking Gauff’s serve early and maintaining the advantage throughout the set. The Belarusian’s serve proved particularly effective, although Gauff, typically a strong returner, struggled to consistently break through.
Gauff finished the match with seven double faults and a first-serve percentage of 67%, hindering her ability to challenge Sabalenka effectively. Sabalenka, in contrast, did not commit any double faults.
This victory improves Sabalenka’s head-to-head record against Gauff to 7-6. Notably, Gauff had previously defeated Sabalenka in the finals of the 2023 US Open and the 2024 Roland Garros, demonstrating her capability to challenge the world No. 1 on the biggest stages.
Despite the loss, Gauff can grab solace in reaching her first Miami Open final. The 22-year-old American, who first played and won a match at the Miami Open at the age of 15 in 2019, has shown significant progress on the hardcourt surface. She also overcame a nerve issue in her left arm that forced her to retire from her third-round match at Indian Wells.
With the result, Gauff will rise to No. 3 in the WTA rankings on Monday, surpassing Iga Swiatek.
Looking Ahead
The Miami Open concludes with the men’s final on Sunday, featuring an intriguing matchup between Italy’s Jannik Sinner and the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka. The tournament has drawn nearly 17,000 fans, including Kai Trump, granddaughter of former President Donald Trump, who was in attendance for the women’s final.
Sabalenka’s remarkable start to the 2026 season has established her as the clear favorite for the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments. Her aggressive style, combined with her unwavering mental strength, makes her a formidable opponent on any surface. The tennis world will be watching closely to see if she can continue her winning streak and potentially complete a calendar-year Grand Slam.
The next confirmed checkpoint for Aryna Sabalenka is her participation in the upcoming clay court season, beginning with the Madrid Open in late April. Fans can follow her progress and receive official updates on the WTA Tour website: https://www.wtatennis.com/
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