MIAMI: Aryna Sabalenka cemented her early-season dominance by winning her second consecutive Miami Open title on Sunday, overcoming Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to complete a remarkable “Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami.
The world number one from Belarus, who had just lifted her first Indian Wells crown, became only the fifth woman—and the first since Iga Swiatek in 2022—to claim both elite WTA 1000 hardcourt titles in the same year. Sabalenka joins tennis legends Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Swiatek in achieving this rare feat.
“It means a lot,” Sabalenka said after her triumph. “My goal has always been to put my name in history, and I just did it.”
The match showcased Sabalenka’s trademark power and precision. She broke Gauff early in the first set and closed it out in just 37 minutes, not facing a single break point. But the American teenager, who had beaten Sabalenka in last year’s Roland Garros final, fought back fiercely in the second set. Gauff broke Sabalenka to take the set 6-4, thrilling the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium, just an hour from her Delray Beach home.
Sabalenka, however, kept her composure and opened the third set with a crucial break. She broke again on her first match point when Gauff sent a backhand long, sealing her second Miami Open title.
“What a month,” Sabalenka said, reflecting on a whirlwind March that included two major titles, a new puppy, and her engagement to Georgios Frangulis.
Despite the loss, Gauff remained positive. After a nerve issue forced her withdrawal from Indian Wells, the 22-year-old was thrilled to reach her first Miami Open final. “I feel like I’m nowhere near my peak yet, so it gives me confidence to play these tournaments and achieve great results,” she said.
With this win, Sabalenka not only reinforces her status as the player to beat in 2026 but also adds her name to the elite group of women who have dominated the early hardcourt season with grit, focus, and unrelenting power.
