Sabalenka beats Gauff to complete 'Sunshine Double'

Aryna Sabalenka dropped only one set during her run to the Miami Open title World number one Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff 6-2 4-6 6-3 to retain her Miami Open title and extend her exceptional start to 2026. Belarusian Sabalenka, 27, is the fifth female player - and the first since Iga Swiatek in 2022 - to complete the 'Sunshine Double' by winning titles at Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters and Steffi Graf are the other three women to have previously achieved that feat.

Sabalenka has won three WTA Tour titles and 23 of her 24 matches during this calendar year. Her only loss was in January's Australian Open final to world number two Elena Rybakina, who had been the only player to win a set against Sabalenka in 2026 before American Gauff sent the Miami final into a decider. Sabalenka said on Sky Sports: "I haven't had a moment to stop, look back and realise what's happened in the past months.

"I'm so proud of the work we've done and the fight I was able to bring on court. "Coco will fight for every opportunity and she played incredibly, but I was mentally strong. I knew I was doing everything right and it was just a matter of a few points.

" Despite losing, Gauff will move above Poland's Swiatek to third in the world when the rankings are next updated. Both of the 22-year-old's Grand Slam victories were sealed with wins in finals against Sabalenka and the pair's head-to-head record was level at 6-6 prior to Saturday's match. Sabalenka had looked on course for a more convincing win when she broke in the very first game and raced through the first set.