World primary Aryna Sabalenka edges Coco Gauff in a tense three-set ultimate to assert the ‘Sunshine Double’ in Florida.
Printed On 29 Mar 2026
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beat hometown favorite Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 within the Miami Open ultimate on Saturday to be a part of an unique membership by finishing the coveted “Sunshine Double”.
High-seeded Sabalenka, who reached the ultimate with out dropping a set, gained 73 p.c of her first-serve factors and confronted simply two break factors en path to victory in a rematch of the 2025 French Open ultimate gained by Gauff.
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Sabalenka is simply the fifth girl to win the Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back, a feat often known as the “Sunshine Double”, given the tournaments’ respective areas in California and Florida.
“I need to begin with [Coco]. You’re a fighter, and also you additionally push me so exhausting to be a greater participant, and I like our rivalry,” Sabalenka, who improved to 7-6 all-time versus Gauff, mentioned in the course of the trophy ceremony.
Sabalenka raced out to a 2-0 lead, however Gauff, from close by Delray Seaside and showing in her first Miami ultimate, bought on the board with a love maintain after which repelled three break factors in her subsequent service sport to get inside 3-2.
However Sabalenka didn’t lose focus and ultimately went up a double break on the world quantity 4 earlier than closing out a dominant opening on her serve.
There was little or no to separate the 2 gamers within the center set, which remained on serve till Gauff broke Sabalenka for the one time within the match to power a 3rd set. Sabalenka broke Gauff to open the decider, held at love in two consecutive service video games to go 5-3 up after which sealed the victory together with her fourth break of the match when Gauff despatched a backhand large.
Sabalenka is the primary participant to win back-to-back Miami titles since Ash Barty in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 version was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Belarusian joins Iga Swiatek (2022), Victoria Azarenka (2016), Kim Clijsters (2005) and Steffi Graf (1994, 1996) as the one ladies to finish the Sunshine Double.
She additionally improved to 23-1 on the yr, her solely loss coming within the Australian Open ultimate by the hands of Elena Rybakina, whom she went on to beat within the Indian Wells ultimate and Miami semifinals.
“Aryna, congratulations. We’ve had many battles, many finals and, yeah, I feel you push me to be a greater participant,” mentioned Gauff. “You’re a terrific fighter, and hopefully we are able to play many extra. I feel we are going to.”
