Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka delivered a dominant performance to defeat hometown favorite Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the final of the Miami Open, securing her place among tennis elites by completing the prestigious “Sunshine Double.”
The world number one entered the final in commanding form, having not dropped a set throughout the tournament. Sabalenka maintained that high level against Gauff, winning an impressive 73 percent of her first-serve points and facing only two break points during the match. The victory also marked a strong response to her loss against Gauff in the 2025 French Open final.
With this triumph, Sabalenka became only the fifth woman in history to win both the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open in the same season. The rare achievement, known as the Sunshine Double, has previously been accomplished by legends such as Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka started the final strongly, quickly establishing a lead and controlling the pace of the opening set. Although Gauff showed resilience in the second set, managing to break Sabalenka and level the match, the Belarusian regained control in the decider. An early break in the third set proved crucial, allowing Sabalenka to maintain momentum and eventually close out the match with authority.
The win also made Sabalenka the first player since Ashleigh Barty to claim back-to-back Miami Open titles, following Barty’s victories in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 edition of the tournament was canceled due to the global COVID-19 outbreak.
Sabalenka’s remarkable run in 2026 continues, as she improved her season record to 23-1. Her only defeat this year came against Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final. She later avenged that loss by defeating Rybakina in both the Indian Wells final and the Miami Open semifinals.
This latest victory further cements Sabalenka’s dominance in women’s tennis and highlights her consistency, resilience, and growing legacy on the global stage.