MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Aryna Sabalenka entered the Miami Open last in opposition to Jessica Pegula with 18 profession titles on her elite resume.
The Miami Open crown had proved elusive till Saturday.
The No. 1 seed from Belarus knocked off fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 for her first Miami Open title in a rematch of the 2024 U.S. Open last.
Sabalenka fired up her deadly forehand in posting 24 winners on that wing to win the $1.1 million first prize. Sabalenka hit a backhand passing shot on match level after which she raised each arms to the air, regarded as much as the sky and blew a kiss.
“Thank God the rain stopped,” Sabalenka mentioned in the course of the trophy ceremony. “It was like Miami was crying that I gained this event.’’
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had gained the U.S. Open over Pegula, additionally in straight units, 7-5, 7-5, however in 2025, Sabalenka’s finals luck had run out.
The 26-year-old energy participant has reached the finals of 4 of six occasions this 12 months, although solely copped one title, in Brisbane, earlier than including Miami. Sabalenka misplaced within the finals of the Australian Open and at Indian Wells — the occasion that preceded Miami.
Sabalenka, who now lives in Miami, introduced the hand-blown crystal trophy to the interview room. “Lastly I used to be in a position to play my greatest tennis within the finals,’’ Sabalenka mentioned. “I’m tremendous completely satisfied to carry this stunning trophy. I really feel like residence right here, though I’m travelling each week, it nonetheless appears like residence.’’
Sabalenka mentioned she’s going to spend the following two weeks in Miami, enjoyable earlier than the clay season.
“My workforce is so exhausted so at this time we’ll chill, however tomorrow I’m going to drive them to have drinks drinks, burgers, pizza (and) have enjoyable,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I believe we should always have fun as a result of we struggled after these robust finals, all type of depressed. After this last, now we have to have fun to recollect the second.’’
In the course of the trophy ceremony, Pegula mentioned to Sabalenka: “You’re one of the best participant on the planet for a motive. You retain difficult everybody to get higher. The extent of tennis you’ve been in a position to play is wonderful.’’
Whereas Sabalenka is a current South Florida resident, Pegula, a 31-year-old Buffalo native, had the group help. Pegula has lived in Boca Raton since she was 13 and is the daughter of Terry Pegula, proprietor of the Buffalo Payments and Sabres.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance because the league homeowners conferences happen Monday in close by Palm Seashore. Her father was additionally available.
“It’s nonetheless cool to see this rework from a Dolphins-Payments recreation to a tennis stadium,’’ Pegula mentioned.
Pegula mentioned she noticed Goodell, whom she had met earlier than, earlier than the match.
“He was together with his daughter and household an hour earlier than the match,’’ Pegula mentioned. “I didn’t know he was coming. I noticed him within the cafeteria. It was type of humorous.’’
Neither participant might maintain serve nicely within the first set. Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve 4 instances and gained it 7-5, profitable the final eight factors of the set.
At 5-5, Sabalenka held serve at love for a 6-5 lead, then broke Pegula at love after hitting three straight winners — two on the web.
“She was in a position to hit the traces when she wanted to, hit the large serve with the 1-2 punch when she wanted to,’’ Pegula mentioned.
Sabalenka leads the sequence vs. Pegula 7-2 and has gained the final three conferences – all finals. Pegula sounded uninterested in dropping to her.
“Now it feels just like the final 12 months Aryna has, particularly on the arduous courts, been type of unstoppable nearly,’’ Pegula mentioned. “I positively like embracing that problem, though I get a little bit irritated with taking part in her.’’
Pegula smiled, including “I don’t know if I’d have gained if I performed another person. However, man, I imply, it’s three titles.’’
The boys’s doubles last, first on the cardboard, was stopped by rain within the second set with No. 1 seed Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic main No. 6 Julian Money and Lloyd Glasspool 7-6, 3-2. 30-30.
Arevalo and Pavic closed out the championship rapidly 7-6, 6-3, however the rain delay induced the three p.m. ladies’s last to start multiple hour tardy.
