Aryna Sabalenka Beats Coco Gauff To Win Miami Open 2026 And Complete Historic Sunshine Double

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on 28th March 2026 to win the Miami Open in Miami Gardens, USA, completing the rare “Sunshine Double” and confirming her dominance of the early 2026 season. The Belarusian retained her Miami title and became only the fifth woman in history to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year.

Sabalenka’s victory capped a remarkable month in which she won back-to-back WTA 1000 titles and extended her 2026 record to 23 wins from 24 matches, with her only defeat coming in the Australian Open final, according to BBC Sport. The win also marked her 24th career singles title and second consecutive triumph in Miami, as reported by ESPN.

The final delivered on its billing as a clash between two of the sport’s leading players. Sabalenka dominated early, breaking serve in the opening game and racing through the first set with aggressive baseline hitting. According to Sky Sports, she won 73 per cent of her first-serve points and faced only two break points across the match, underlining her control on serve.

Gauff, playing in her first Miami Open final and backed by a vocal home crowd, responded strongly in the second set. The American saved multiple break points and seized her opportunity late in the set to level the match, as reported. Her resilience forced a deciding set and briefly shifted momentum inside a packed stadium.

However, Sabalenka reset quickly. She broke Gauff in the opening game of the third set and maintained her advantage with composed service games before sealing victory when Gauff sent a backhand wide. The match lasted two hours and 11 minutes, according to ESPN.

Speaking after the match, Sabalenka highlighted her mental resilience during key moments. “I was really, really mentally strong,” she told Sky Sports. “It was just a matter of a few points.”

The result carried historic significance. Sabalenka joined Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek as the only women to complete the Sunshine Double. She became the first player to achieve the feat since Swiatek in 2022.

Tournament director James Blake underlined the scale of the achievement during the trophy ceremony. According to the WTA, Blake told the crowd Sabalenka was doing “historic” things, highlighting her back-to-back Miami titles and exceptional run of form.

Sabalenka, however, downplayed comparisons with past greats. “I’m not even close to the legends,” she said in her post-match press conference, according to the WTA. “I’m just trying to go as far as possible.”

The victory also shifted the balance in her growing rivalry with Gauff. Sabalenka moved ahead 7-6 in their head-to-head record, having previously been level. Their meetings have included major finals, most notably the 2025 French Open, which Gauff won, adding further weight to their developing rivalry.

Gauff showed significant progress at her home tournament despite the defeat. The 22-year-old had never previously advanced beyond the fourth round in Miami but reached the final this year. According to BBC Sport, she is set to rise to world No.3 in the next rankings update, overtaking Swiatek.

“It sucks not to come out with a better result,” Gauff said, according to ESPN. “But I had a lot of joy this week.”

The final also unfolded in a charged atmosphere. With the crowd firmly behind Gauff, Sabalenka faced disruption during play. According to talkSPORT, a spectator shouted during a rally, prompting a frustrated reaction from Sabalenka, who received a code violation for swearing.

Sabalenka addressed the incident during the trophy ceremony, offering a brief apology. “I shouldn’t have been that rude,” she said, adding that both she and the spectator were at fault.

Despite the distraction, Sabalenka maintained focus and delivered a composed performance in the decisive moments. Former British No.1 Tim Henman praised her response, telling Sky Sports that her ability to recover after losing the second set reflected “the sign of a great champion.”

Sabalenka’s Miami triumph followed her victory at Indian Wells earlier in March, where she defeated Elena Rybakina in the final. She also overcame Rybakina again in the Miami semi-finals, avenging her only defeat of the season in the Australian Open final.

Sabalenka’s March run delivered two WTA 1000 titles, extended her winning streak and contributed to more than $2.3 million in prize money. She also reached 11 career WTA 1000 titles, reinforcing her position at the top of the women’s game.

Off the court, Sabalenka described the past month as one of the most memorable of her career. According to the WTA, she recently announced her engagement and welcomed a new puppy, moments she said contributed to a sense of “happiness” during the Sunshine Double run.

“I couldn’t be more happy,” she said. “It’s been really incredible.”

The Miami Open, a WTA 1000 event, represents one of the most prestigious stops on the tour outside the Grand Slams. Winning both Indian Wells and Miami in succession requires sustained performance across different conditions and surfaces within a short period, making the Sunshine Double one of the sport’s most difficult achievements.

Sabalenka’s ability to navigate that challenge without dropping more than one set across the Miami tournament further emphasised her consistency. While Sky Sports reported she reached the final without losing a set, BBC clarified that she dropped only one during the event.

Looking ahead, Sabalenka is expected to take a short break before returning to competition at the Stuttgart Open in April, where she will be the top seed. Her current form places her firmly at the centre of the women’s tour as the clay-court season begins.

Meanwhile, attention at the Miami Open turned to the men’s final, where Jannik Sinner aimed to replicate Sabalenka’s Sunshine Double, according to BBC Sport.

Sabalenka’s victory in Miami confirmed her status as the standout player of 2026 so far. With two major titles secured in March and momentum firmly on her side, she now turns her attention to the clay season with history already made and further milestones within reach.