World number one Aryna Sabalenka edges Coco Gauff in a tense three-set final to claim the ‘Sunshine Double’ in Florida.By ReutersPublished On 29 Mar 202629 Mar 2026Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beat hometown favourite Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Miami Open final on Saturday to join an exclusive club by completing the coveted “Sunshine Double”.Top-seeded Sabalenka, who reached the final without dropping a set, won 73 percent of her first-serve points and faced just two break points en route to victory in a rematch of the 2025 French Open final won by Gauff.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listSabalenka is only the fifth woman to win the Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back, a feat known as the “Sunshine Double”, given the tournaments’ respective locations in California and Florida.“I want to start with [Coco]. You’re a fighter, and you also push me so hard to be a better player, and I like our rivalry,” Sabalenka, who improved to 7-6 all-time versus Gauff, said during the trophy ceremony. Sabalenka returns a shot against Gauff in the final [Carmen Mandato/Getty Images via AFP]Sabalenka raced out to a 2-0 lead, but Gauff, from nearby Delray Beach and appearing in her first Miami final, got on the board with a love hold and then repelled three break points in her next service game to get within 3-2.But Sabalenka did not lose focus and eventually went up a double break on the world number four before closing out a dominant opening on her serve.There was very little to separate the two players in the middle set, which remained on serve until Gauff broke Sabalenka for the only time in the match to force a third set. Sabalenka broke Gauff to open the decider, held at love in two consecutive service games to go 5-3 up and then sealed the victory with her fourth break of the match when Gauff sent a backhand wide. Advertisement Sabalenka is the first player to win back-to-back Miami ti …
