Sabalenka completes ‘Sunshine double’
MIAMI GARDENS—Aryna Sabalenka played an overpowering third set to outlast Coco Gauff, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, in the finals of the Miami Open on Saturday as the world’s top-ranked player completed the “Sunshine Double” at the expense of the hometown bet.
Sabalenka’s sizzling groundstroke winners were keys as she became the first player to win Indian Wells, followed by this tournament in the same season since Poland’s Iga Swiatek in 2022.
It was Sabalenka’s second straight title at the Miami Open, Gauff’s hometown tournament and it put her ahead of Gauff in their head-to-head record, 7-6.
“You’ve pushed me to be a better player,’’ Sabalenka said during the ceremony, before adding about the crowd, “You always bring a full stadium.’’
The match lasted two hours and 11 minutes and ended on Gauff getting broken for the fourth time with a wide backhand.
Gauff fought back to force the third set, but couldn’t maintain the momentum she appeared to get from the deafening crowd supporting her.
“It sucks not to come out with a better result but I had a lot of joy this week,’’ Gauff said to the crowd. “You guys brought energy every day this week.’’
Sabalenka at times was frustrated by the fan noise, including when someone yelled “out’’ during a long rally. She used a curse word at the fan and the chair umpire warned the crowd, but also gave a code violation to Sabalenka.
“I shouldn’t be that rude, but come on, you cannot do that,” Sabalenka said at the ceremony. “So let’s agree we were both wrong, so sorry.’’
Gauff’s off-and-on serve created seven double faults while Sabalenka registered none.
Sabalenka broke Gauff in the first game of the third set, helped by a Gauff double fault and an unforced error. On break point, Sabalenka crunched a backhand winner.
“I was disappointed about that first game of the third set up 30-0 with momentum,’’ Gauff said. “It was an important game to win in that moment.’’
