Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has joined the exclusive club after defeating local favorite Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final to complete the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’.
In a rematch of the 2025 French Open final won by Gauff, world number one Sabalenka, who reached the final without dropping a set, won 73 percent of her first serve points and had just two break points, winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Sabalenka is the fifth woman to win back-to-back Indian Wells and Miami titles, a feat known as the “Sunshine Double” because the tournaments are held in California and Florida, respectively.
Sabalenka took a 2-0 lead, but Gauff, a native of nearby Delray Beach and playing in her first Miami final, got on the board with a love hold and repelled three break points in her next service game to make it 3-2.
But Sabalenka stayed focused and ended up making a double break at world No. 4, before capping off a dominant opening with her serve.
There was very little separation between the two players in the middle sets, with Gauff remaining on serve until she broke Sabalenka for the only time in the match to steal the third set.
Aryna Sabalenka defends Miami Open title, completes Sunshine Double with victory over Coco Gauff
Sabalenka broke Gauff to take the lead, held love in two consecutive service games to take a 5-3 lead, and sealed the win with her fourth break of the match when Gauff sent a backhand wide.
The Belarusian is the only woman to have achieved the Sunshine Double, along with Iga Swiatek (2022), Victoria Azarenka (2016), Kim Clijsters (2005) and Steffi Graf (1994, 1996).
The Belarusian also improved to 23 wins and 1 loss that year, her only loss coming in the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina, who she defeated in the Indian Wells final and the Miami semifinal.
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Sabalenka had nothing but respect for Gauff after defeating her hometown hero at the Miami Open.
Sabalenka told Sky Sports Tennis: “I’m really proud of what we’ve done so far. I’m really proud of the game and the level and everything else that we’ve been able to bring to the court.”
“I knew she was going to fight for every opportunity. She played incredibly well. But I made some unforced errors in the last game and gave her a set. But in my head I was really, really strong mentally.”
“I knew everything was right. It was just a matter of a few more points. I stayed focused and kept telling myself to do better next time. That was my mindset going into the third set.”
Henman: The mark of a great champion
Tim Henman of Sky Sports Tennis:
“It would have been easy to get frustrated considering the tennis that Sabalenka has played.
“She’s obviously tired mentally and physically, but I think the first few games of the third set spoke volumes. Her mental capacity and her fortitude to be able to say, ‘Okay, I lost the second set, but let’s go again.’ We’ve got one last set left here to do the Sunshine Double.”
“She broke serve early and then the way she just dealt with her service game was very impressive. You can feel the confidence on the court oozing through her veins.”
“That’s another amazing accomplishment. And I don’t think she played her best today, but that’s the sign of a great champion. Even though she’s not playing her best, she still gets the job done.”
The Miami Open runs through March 29th. Watch the ATP Tour and WTA Tour live on Sky Sports. Stream now with no contract.
