Aryna Sabalenka Defends Miami Open Title, Completes Historic Sunshine Double

Key Points

• Sabalenka defeated Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to defend her Miami Open title
• Became the fifth woman in history to complete the Sunshine Double (winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back)
• Improved her 2026 record to an exceptional 23-1 with her only loss at the Australian Open
• Gauff was playing in her hometown final but couldn't capture her first Miami Open trophy

Full Details

Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her Miami Open crown with a hard-fought 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over hometown favorite Coco Gauff at Hard Rock Stadium on March 28, 2026. The Belarusian star became only the fifth woman ever to complete the Sunshine Double, joining an exclusive club that includes Martina Hingis (1997, 1998), Kim Clijsters (2005), Justine Henin (2007), and Victoria Azarenka (2016). Gauff, playing in her home city, showed resilience by winning the second set but ultimately couldn't prevent Sabalenka from claiming her second consecutive Miami title. The world No. 1 improved her remarkable 2026 record to 23-1, with her only loss coming at the Australian Open. A decisive double fault by Gauff in the seventh game of the opening set helped Sabalenka secure the break that allowed her to serve for the set, and she closed out the match with a backhand winner on championship point.