Sabalenka Completes 'Sunshine Double' with Second Straight Miami Open Title Over Gauff
Aryna Sabalenka has etched her name into tennis history, winning her second consecutive Miami Open title with a commanding 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Coco Gauff on Saturday [1]. The Belarusian world number one's triumph completes what's known as the "Sunshine Double" — a sweep of both the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles in the same season [1].
"It means a lot," Sabalenka said after the match. "My goal always been to put my name in the history, and I just did it." [1]
By winning both elite early-season WTA 1000 hardcourt titles, Sabalenka becomes only the fifth woman to accomplish this feat, joining an illustrious group that includes Poland's Iga Swiatek (2022), German great Steffi Graf, Belgian Kim Clijsters, and fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka [1]. The last player to achieve this before Sabalenka was Swiatek herself, four years ago.
Sabalenka had entered the final riding high, having avenged her Australian Open finals loss to Elena Rybakina with victories over the Kazakh in both the Indian Wells championship match and again in the Miami semi-finals [2]. She reached Saturday's final without dropping a set [2]. Going into the match, Sabalenka said she was "ready to do whatever it takes" to capture the title, though she emphasized her approach to the rivalry [2]. "I never look back when I play anyone. Doesn't matter what head-to-head looks like," Sabalenka explained. "I always approach the match against any player as new matches as I play against a new player, always watch their games, I see the improvements, I see what they're doing on court." [2]
The match showcased Sabalenka's dominance this season. She opened with a ruthless first set, breaking Gauff to start and again in the seventh game, never facing a break point herself in the opening 37 minutes [1]. Though Gauff fought back to claim the second set, Sabalenka reasserted her control in the decider, breaking to open the final frame and clinching the title when Gauff sent a backhand long on Sabalenka's first match point [1].
"I knew that she's going to try her very best to fight in this match," Sabalenka said of her American rival. "I was just trying to keep a positive mindset going into the third set. I'm super happy how well I handled my emotions how well I stayed focused from the very beginning to the very end." [1]
The victory is particularly significant given the competitive history between the two players. Sabalenka and Gauff have split their 12 prior meetings [2], with Gauff claiming notable victories including triumphs over Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open and last year's French Open, where the American claimed her second Grand Slam title [1]. The American had previously won all nine of her hardcourt finals before Saturday, marking Gauff's first career defeat in a hardcourt final [1].
For Gauff, reaching the final represented a remarkable turnaround given the obstacles she faced in March. The 22-year-old withdrew from her third-round match at Indian Wells with a nerve issue in her left arm that she described as "scary" [1]. She had needed three sets in each of her first four matches at Miami before a dominant win over Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals, during which she felt her forehand finally beginning to click [2]. "Especially with my serve, it just feels like I shouldn't be where I am," Gauff reflected before the final, noting her continuing struggle with double faults [2]. Despite these setbacks and seven double faults against Sabalenka in the final, Gauff was grateful to reach the Miami final for the first time. "This tournament means a lot and to be in the final is pretty crazy," she said, acknowledging that the prestigious tournament's proximity to her Delray Beach home was too much to pass up despite the obstacles [2]. "I feel like I'm nowhere near my peak of my tennis, so I think it gives me comfort a little bit playing these tournaments and having great results," she reflected [1].
Off the court, it's been quite the month for Sabalenka, who also acquired a new puppy and got engaged to boyfriend Georgios Frangulis [1].