Sabalenka stuns home favourite Gauff, clinches back-to-back Miami Open Final titles

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated American star Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in a gripping final to win the Miami Open women’s singles title on Saturday, completing the prestigious ‘Sunshine Double’ .

With the victory, Sabalenka became the first player since Iga Swiatek in 2022 to win both Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the same season , one of the toughest achievements in tennis due to the back-to-back tournaments played under intense competition.

Sabalenka began the final in dominant fashion, overpowering fourth-seeded Gauff in the opening set with a series of sizzling groundstroke winners . The American, playing in front of a passionate home crowd, responded strongly in the second set, raising her level and forcing a decider.

However, the momentum shifted early in the third set when Sabalenka broke Gauff in the opening game , capitalising on a double fault and an unforced error before finishing the point with a powerful backhand winner. That break proved decisive as the Belarusian held her nerve to close out the contest after two hours and 11 minutes .

Gauff struggled with her serve during key moments, committing seven double faults , while Sabalenka produced a flawless serving performance without registering any.

Despite the defeat, Gauff remained upbeat about her performance in front of the Miami crowd.

“It sucks not to come out with a better result, but I had a lot of joy this week,” she told the fans.

Sabalenka also praised her opponent during the trophy ceremony. “You’ve pushed me to be a better player,” she said, thanking the crowd for creating a vibrant atmosphere.

The title was Sabalenka’s second consecutive Miami Open crown and the 24th of her professional career , further cementing her dominance on the women’s tour this season.