World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff in a tense three-set final to win the Sunshine Double in Florida.
Published March 29, 2026
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka joined the exclusive club after defeating local favorite Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Miami Open final on Saturday to complete the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’.
In a rematch of the 2025 French Open final won by Gauff, top-seeded Sabalenka, who reached the final without dropping a set, won 73 percent of her first serve points and had just two break points en route to victory.
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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.
“I’d like to start with (Coco). You’re a fighter and you push me so hard to be a better fighter. I like our rivalry,” Sabalenka, who improved her record to 7-6 against Gauff, said at the trophy ceremony.
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 pull within 3-2.
However, Sabalenka remained focused and eventually made a double break on the world No. 4 player, capping off a dominant opening with her serve.
There was little to separate 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. Sabalenka broke Gauff to take the lead, held love in two consecutive service games to take a 5-3 lead, and sealed the victory with her fourth break of the match when Gauff hit a backhand wide.
Sabalenka becomes the first player to win back-to-back Miami titles since Ash Barty in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 edition was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Belarusian is the only woman to complete the Sunshine Double, along with Iga Swiatek (2022), Victoria Azarenka (2016), Kim Clijsters (2005) and Steffi Graf (1994, 1996).
She also improved to 23-1 during the year, with her only loss being to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final, and defeating Elena Rybakina in the Indian Wells final and Miami semifinal.
“Congratulations Alina. We’ve been through a lot of battles, a lot of finals, and yeah, I think you’ve pushed me to be a better player,” Gauff said. “You’re a great fighter. Hopefully you get more fights. I think you will.”
