Aryna Sabalenka defeated hometown favourite Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final to retain the title and complete the prestigious ‘Sunshine Double’ — winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back. World No. 1 Sabalenka, who reached the final without dropping a set, prevailed 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in a rematch of the 2025 French Open final won by Gauff.
Sabalenka won 73% of her first-serve points and faced only two break points across the match. She is now only the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double, joining Iga Swiatek (2022), Victoria Azarenka (2016), Kim Clijsters (2005) and Steffi Graf (1994, 1996).
The final unfolded as a tight contest. Sabalenka opened quickly to lead 2-0, but Gauff — making her first Miami final and playing in front of a local crowd — steadied with a love hold and fended off three break points to pull back to 3-2. Sabalenka then regrouped, secured a double break and closed out a dominant first set on serve.
A competitive second set stayed on serve until Gauff produced the match’s only break to force a decider. In the third set Sabalenka struck early with a break, then held at love in consecutive service games to move 5-3 and finished the match when Gauff sent a backhand wide for the decisive break.
The victory moves Sabalenka to 23-1 for the season; her lone loss came in the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina, whom she later beat in the Indian Wells final and the Miami semi-finals.
Reflecting on the win, Sabalenka praised the team’s work and her mental strength, saying she stayed focused, learned from mistakes that cost her the second set and pushed hard in the decider. Sky Sports pundit Tim Henman highlighted her resilience, noting that, despite obvious fatigue from a heavy schedule, Sabalenka showed the mental fortitude and service-hold consistency that mark the game’s elite.
The Miami Open continues through March 29, with coverage available live on Sky Sports’ ATP and WTA broadcasts.