MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Aryna Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Miami Open women’s singles final on Saturday.
The world No. 1 dominated No. 4 Gauff with stunning groundstroke winners in the first and third sets, becoming the first player since Iga Swiatek in 2022 to complete the “Sunshine Double” by winning Indian Wells and then Miami in the same season.
This was Sabalenka’s second consecutive victory at the Miami Open, Gauff’s home tournament, and she outperformed Gauff with 7 wins and 6 losses.
“You made me a better player,” Sabalenka said at the ceremony, adding of the crowd, “You always bring a packed stadium.”
The match lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes and ended with Gauff’s fourth break on a wide backhand.
Gauff fought back to take the third set, but could not maintain the momentum she gained from the deafening crowd cheering.
“I’m disappointed it couldn’t have been better, but I had so much fun this week. You all brought the energy every day this week,” Gauff told the crowd.
Sabalenka was at times irritated by fan noise, including someone yelling “out” during a long rally, and swore at the fans, causing the referee to warn the crowd but also give her a rules violation.
“I shouldn’t be so rude, but come on, I can’t do that,” Sabalenka said at the ceremony. “Then let’s agree that we were both wrong. We’re sorry.”
Gauff’s intermittent serving resulted in seven double faults, while Sabalenka recorded none.
Sabalenka broke Gauff in the first game of the third set, helped by Gauff’s double fault and unforced error. At break point, Sabalenka hit a backhand winner.
Gauff said, “I was disappointed in the first game of the third set, where I had a lot of momentum and went up 30-0.It was an important match to win at that moment.”
Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump and a golfer at the University of Miami, was also in attendance at the game. She posted a photo of herself with Sabalenka at the tournament on social media on Friday.
Sabalenka, who won her 24th professional title, said before the match that she was glad Gauff had found her best tennis at her home tournament. No player had ever made it past the fourth round in this tournament.
