Sabalenka Clinches Sunshine Double with Miami Open Victory
Aryna Sabalenka secured a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win over Coco Gauff to claim the Miami Open title, completing the prestigious Sunshine Double.
Despite losing the second set, the Belarusian maintained her composure and resilience to emerge victorious.
Sabalenka faced a challenging situation reminiscent of previous encounters with Gauff. After a strong start marked by aggressive and precise striking, the match shifted as she was drawn into a tense final set, struggling to maintain her hold.
In earlier significant matches against Gauff, Sabalenka had faltered under pressure in the decisive set. However, her career has been characterized by a persistent drive to improve. This time, she steadied herself and demonstrated her status as the world’s top player by narrowly defeating Gauff in a high-quality contest to win the Miami Open for the second consecutive year.
By achieving this victory, Sabalenka became only the fifth woman in history to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year, a feat known as the Sunshine Double. Over the course of 22 days and 12 wins, the 27-year-old has dropped only two sets and defeated three opponents ranked in the top four. This marks the 11th WTA 1000 title of her career, further cementing her place among the greatest players of her generation.
The match began as expected, with the world No. 1 dominating from the baseline through powerful and clean ball striking. Gauff, however, responded admirably, elevating her level under pressure. She served effectively during critical moments, increased the pace on her second serve, and aggressively attacked with her forehand. Gauff capitalized on her opportunities, breaking Sabalenka’s serve at 5-4 to push the match into a final set.
In their previous Grand Slam final meetings, Sabalenka also faced final sets after winning the first set but succumbed to pressure, resulting in two of the most difficult losses of her career. This time, she remained composed, quickly regrouping and securing the decisive break in Gauff’s opening service game of the final set.
Despite a recent tough loss in the Australian Open final, Sabalenka has started 2026 with an impressive 23-1 record. This season marks her third year ranked No. 1, and she continues to refine her game, learning to harness her immense power and ball striking to perform consistently at a high level. Her evolution from a raw, inconsistent player focused solely on power to a well-rounded and strategic competitor has been remarkable.
“[If I told] Aryna, when she was 15 years old: ‘Oh, by the way, in 2026 you’re going to be doing this, this, and that.’ I’ll be like: ‘OK, whatever.’ So that’s a dream life. And I’m super happy that the hard work really pays off. So, yeah, super happy right now.”
Gauff’s Strong Performance Despite Challenges
Coco Gauff has faced difficulties this year, particularly as she works to overhaul her service motion following issues with her second serve last year. Entering the Miami Open with an arm injury, she surpassed expectations and delivered quality tennis, especially in the later rounds.
Having spent much of her life in Delray Beach, Gauff’s appearance in such a high-profile final attracted a record sellout crowd of 16,800 spectators. Although visibly disappointed after narrowly missing out on one of the most significant titles of her career, she is positioned well as she approaches the clay-court season and prepares to defend her French Open title.
