Aryna Sabalenka poses with the Butch Buchholz trophy after defeating Coco Gauff in the course of the Ladies’s Singles Closing on Day 12 of the Miami Open in Miami Gardens, Florida.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Photos by way of AFP
Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff within the Miami Open girls’s singles closing 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday (March 28, 2026).
The world No. 1 overpowered fourth-ranked Gauff within the first and third units with scorching groundstroke winners and have become the primary participant to perform the “Sunshine Double” — profitable Indian Wells adopted by Miami in the identical season — since Iga Swiatek in 2022.
It was Sabalenka’s second straight title on the Miami Open, Gauff’s hometown match, and put her forward of Gauff of their head-to-head report, 7-6.
“You have pushed me to be a greater participant,” Sabalenka stated in the course of the ceremony, earlier than including concerning the crowd, “You at all times carry a full stadium.” The match lasted 2 hours, 11 minutes and ended on Gauff getting damaged for the fourth time with a large backhand.
Gauff fought again to pressure the third set, however could not keep the momentum she appeared to get from the deafening crowd supporting her.
“It sucks to not come out with a greater end result however I had quite a lot of pleasure this week,” Gauff stated to the gang. “You guys introduced vitality each day this week.” Sabalenka at instances was pissed off by the fan noise, together with when somebody yelled “out” throughout an extended rally. She used a curse phrase on the fan and the chair umpire warned the gang, but additionally gave a code violation to Sabalenka.
“I should not be that impolite, however come on, you can not do this,” Sabalenka stated on the ceremony. “So let’s agree we have been each unsuitable, so sorry.” Gauff’s off-and-on serve created seven double faults whereas Sabalenka registered none.
Sabalenka broke Gauff within the first sport of the third set, helped by a Gauff double fault and an unforced error. On break level, Sabalenka crunched a backhand winner.
“I used to be dissatisfied about that first sport of the third arrange 30-0 with momentum,” Gauff stated. “It was an vital sport to win in that second.” The match was attended by Kai Trump, President Donald Trump’s granddaughter and a golfer on the College of Miami. She posted a photograph with Sabalenka on the match on social media Friday.
Sabalenka, who earned her twenty fourth professional title, stated earlier than the match she was joyful Gauff had discovered her greatest tennis in her residence match at which she had by no means gotten previous the fourth spherical.
Revealed – March 29, 2026 09:36 am IST
