On March 28, 2026, Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Coco Gauff in a thrilling final at the Miami Open, securing the title with a scoreline of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Sabalenka, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, demonstrated her powerful groundstrokes and solid strategy, particularly in the first and third sets, which allowed her to claim her second consecutive Miami Open title.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Sabalenka as she becomes the first player to complete the “Sunshine Double” since Iga Swiatek achieved the feat in 2022. Winning both Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the same season highlights Sabalenka’s outstanding performance on hard courts.
The match lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes, ultimately concluding with Gauff’s fourth service break of the match as she faltered with a wide backhand. Despite a spirited comeback that propelled her into a third set, Gauff struggled to maintain the momentum generated by her enthusiastic home crowd in Miami.
Reflecting on the match during the trophy ceremony, Sabalenka acknowledged Gauff’s contribution to her own development as a player, stating, “You’ve pushed me to be a better player.” Acknowledging the electric atmosphere provided by the crowd, she added, “You always bring a full stadium.”
Gauff expressed her disappointment in the final result but remained grateful for the support she received throughout the tournament. “It sucks not to come out with a better result, but I had a lot of joy this week. You guys brought energy every day this week,” she shared with her supporters.
The match also had its tense moments, including a brief exchange between Sabalenka and a spectator that resulted in a warning from the chair umpire. Sabalenka later addressed the incident, saying, “I shouldn’t be that rude, but come on, you cannot do that. So let’s agree we were both wrong, so sorry.”
Technical inconsistencies plagued Gauff’s serve, leading to seven double faults, while Sabalenka managed to serve flawlessly throughout the match. The pivotal moment came early in the third set when Sabalenka broke Gauff’s serve, helped by a double fault from the American.
Gauff noted the importance of that pivotal game at the start of the deciding set, saying, “I was disappointed about that first game of the third set up 30-0 with momentum. It was an important game to win in that moment.”
The match drew various notable attendees, including Kai Trump, granddaughter of former President Donald Trump, who shared a photo with Sabalenka shortly before the match on social media.
With this victory, Sabalenka secured her 24th professional title and expressed her appreciation for Gauff’s achievements in her local tournament, where she had previously not advanced past the fourth round. The future looks promising for both players as they continue to make their marks on the tour.
