World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated hometown favourite Coco Gauff 6-2 4-6 6-3 in the Miami Open final on Saturday to complete the prestigious ‘Sunshine Double’.
The Belarusian arrived at the tournament having already claimed the Indian Wells crown and successfully retained her Miami title in a thrilling three-set encounter.
Victory means she joins an elite club of just five women to win both Californian and Floridian events back-to-back in the same season.
Sabalenka survives mid-match fightback
The top seed established early dominance by racing into a 2-0 lead before fending off resistance from the world number four to secure a double break.
A powerful serving display saw the defending champion win 73 per cent of her first-serve points while closing out the opening set in commanding fashion.
However, the American challenger, who hails from nearby Delray Beach, found her rhythm in a tightly contested middle set.
Gauff struck at the pivotal moment, breaking her opponent for the only time in the match to force a deciding set and delight the local crowd.
An elite club and staggering season record
The deciding set saw the tournament favourite immediately regain her composure, breaking early before holding to love in two consecutive service games.
She sealed the championship with her fourth break of the contest when her American rival sent a decisive backhand wide.
The triumph acts as revenge for the 2025 French Open final, where Gauff previously claimed a famous victory over her fierce competitor.
By capturing consecutive stateside titles, the world’s top-ranked player joins Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek in achieving the elusive double.
It caps off an extraordinary start to the campaign, improving her formidable 2026 record to 23 wins and just a single defeat.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka offered to share her £844,000 prize money with Jessica Pegula after defeating the American in the Miami Open final.
The Belarusian secured a straight-sets 7-5 6-2 victory to claim the prestigious title in Florida.
It marked her third consecutive championship win over the hometown favourite following recent victories at the US Open and Cincinnati Open.
Displaying remarkable empathy during the trophy presentation, the reigning women’s champion apologised to her defeated rival.
A dominant rivalry
“First of all Jess, I’m so sorry, for real,” the four-time Grand Slam winner said post-match.
“If I could share the trophy with someone, trophy, prize money, points, everything – I would definitely share it with you.”
The 27-year-old went on to praise the world number five for consistently elevating her performance during their encounters.
“You’re an incredible player, you always push me so hard to play my best,” she added.
“Continue doing what you’re doing and I’m pretty sure we’re going to play many more finals.”
Pegula praises world’s best
Despite enduring another final defeat on home soil, the American runner-up was quick to commend her conqueror.
“Three finals, it’s… I really, really don’t want to like you right now,” she joked during the ceremony.
“But you’re the best player in the world for a reason.”
The world’s top-ranked player has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the current season.
She reached the Australian Open final in January before lifting the Indian Wells trophy earlier this month.
Meanwhile, her Florida-based rival recently bounced back by claiming the Dubai Championships title in February.
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next month’s Monte Carlo Masters as the 24-time Grand Slam champion continues to manage an ongoing shoulder injury.
Organisers for the prestigious clay-court tournament confirmed the news via social media, sending the Serbian their best wishes for a swift recovery.
The veteran has been hampered by forearm and shoulder issues for several months.
This persistent problem recently forced him to skip the Miami Open in a bid to prioritise his long-term fitness.
Indian Wells struggles
The former world number one did compete at Indian Wells earlier in March.
However, his campaign in California ended prematurely with a round-of-16 defeat by Great Britain’s Jack Draper.
During that tournament, the tennis icon admitted he was experiencing significant discomfort when his arm cooled down between service games.
“I’ve been struggling the last couple of weeks with that forearm and trying to go through,” he told the Tennis Channel.
“If I don’t serve for five or six minutes, then I feel like the first couple of serves of that game are a bit painful. I’m working through it.”
Focus shifts to summer Grand Slams
By stepping away from the Monte Carlo event, the Belgrade native appears to be conserving his energy for the gruelling summer schedule.
Major targets like the French Open at Roland Garros and the grass courts of Wimbledon loom on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz will be looking to defend his title in Monaco when the tournament begins on 4 April.
The young Spaniard is expected to face stiff competition from a stacked field that includes Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final as she stands on the brink of completing a historic Sunshine Double.
The Belarusian advanced to the showpiece event in Florida by dismantling second seed Elena Rybakina 6-4 6-3 on Thursday.
It took the top seed just 79 minutes to secure her second consecutive victory over the Kazakhstani player.
Renewing a fierce rivalry
Sabalenka will now meet American star Gauff in a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s Roland Garros final.
Gauff claimed her second Grand Slam title in that Paris encounter, prompting her opponent to criticise the teenager’s defensive style of play.
However, the reigning Australian Open champion levelled their head-to-head record at six wins apiece during the WTA Finals late last year.
Gauff earned her spot in her first Miami final by thrashing the in-form Karolina Muchova 6-1 6-1.
Preparing for an emotional battle
The world number one knows she faces a stern test against an opponent renowned for her exceptional court coverage and retrieving ability.
“A lot of rallies, a lot of emotions, a lot of aggression, a lot of fun,” said the powerful ball-striker when asked about the impending clash.
“It’s going to be a battle and I’m super excited to play her in another final.”
The 25-year-old boasts an exceptional 22-1 win-loss record this season and has reached four consecutive finals.
Chasing the Sunshine Double
A victory on Saturday would cement her place in tennis history alongside some of the sport’s greatest names.
She is aiming to become only the fifth woman to win Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back.
Iga Swiatek was the last player to achieve the rare feat during the 2022 season.
The exclusive club also includes tennis legends Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka.
A US judge has dismissed a mental abuse lawsuit brought by Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko against the WTA Tour regarding its handling of Russian and Belarusian competitors following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The legal action originally stemmed from the 36-year-old’s allegations that the governing body and its former chief executive, Steve Simon, failed to adequately protect players’ emotional wellbeing.
Tsurenko, a former world top-25 player, claimed the organisation broke a promise to ban athletes who actively supported the war.
Duty of care focused on physical safety
In her ruling in Manhattan on Wednesday, US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald determined that the tour was best positioned to decide what constitutes detrimental conduct within the sport.
The judge concluded that the Ukrainian had not successfully demonstrated that the organisation held a legal obligation to ensure the game remained completely free from emotional distress.
“When courts have found that sports associations owe a duty to their players, those duties relate to ensuring players’ physical safety, not their emotional wellbeing.”
Judge Buchwald also noted that administrators employed reasoned decision-making in the aftermath of the conflict, which included forcing competitors from Russia and Belarus to compete as neutral athletes.
Panic attack and Indian Wells withdrawal
The experienced baseline specialist had previously highlighted specific incidents that exacerbated her distress on the professional circuit.
These included an accusation that Simon had told her it was acceptable for others to support the ongoing conflict, alongside claims regarding a Russian player wearing a patch for a sanctioned oil company.
The emotional toll culminated in a documented panic attack that forced the Ukrainian to withdraw from a scheduled match against current world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 Indian Wells tournament.
WTA defends stance on individual athletes
The claimant had been seeking damages for both breach of contract and negligence, including the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In their successful defence, representatives for the women’s tour maintained they had consistently condemned the military actions while taking significant steps to support affected Ukrainian members.
The governing body successfully argued that individual athletes should not face professional punishment solely based on the political actions of their respective national governments.
Legal representatives for both the player and the tennis organisation have not yet publicly commented on the ruling.
Frenchman Arthur Fils has reached his first Masters semi-final at the Miami Open by saving four match points to defeat Tommy Paul following an eight-month injury absence.
The 21-year-old staged a remarkable comeback from the brink of defeat, winning six consecutive points in the deciding set despite struggling with severe cramps.
He had previously spent the better part of a year sidelined with a lower back stress fracture sustained during a memorable Roland Garros campaign last May.
That severe injury halted a rapid rise up the rankings which had previously seen the explosive striker establish himself at a career-high 14th in the world.
Dramatic return to the elite
Facing elimination against his American opponent in Florida, the returning star battled through significant physical discomfort to secure a monumental victory.
His triumphant celebration echoed his famous five-set victory over Jaume Munar in Paris, as he joyously lifted his shirt over his head to roar at his coaching box.
The protracted absence was deeply frustrating for the young prospect, who was forced to watch rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominate the tour while he underwent rehabilitation.
Fellow young stars Jack Draper and Holger Rune also suffered untimely setbacks during that period, leaving a noticeable void of emerging challengers on the men’s circuit.
New coaching setup yields immediate results
Prioritising a full physical recovery, the right-hander opted to play it safe and skip January’s Australian Open before making a competitive return at Montpellier in February.
His ongoing comeback has been heavily bolstered by the high-profile appointment of former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic to his backroom team.
Partnering with the legendary Croatian, who famously guided Novak Djokovic to 12 Grand Slam titles, represents a major statement of intent.
The new partnership quickly produced a final appearance at the Qatar Open, although that impressive run ended with a heavy straight-sets defeat to Alcaraz.
Reflecting on that incredibly brief 50-minute Doha final, the defeated runner-up could only marvel at the Spaniard’s relentless level.
“It was a joke.”
Arthur Fils
Coco Gauff has secured her place in the Miami Open semi-finals after overcoming Belinda Bencic in an epic quarter-final encounter in Florida.
The American star produced a resilient performance to move past her experienced Swiss opponent and advance to the final four.
Bencic tested the home favourite throughout the gruelling contest, but ultimately fell short against the dynamic young talent.
Home favourite continues impressive hard-court run
Reaching the latter stages in Miami represents another significant milestone for the hugely popular Florida resident.
The former Olympic gold medallist pushed her to the limit, ensuring the passionate crowd were treated to a thrilling tennis spectacle.
Gauff will now prepare for her upcoming semi-final clash as she looks to claim one of the most prestigious titles on the WTA Tour.
Eyes on the Miami Open prize
The high-profile tournament is considered one of the most demanding events outside of the four Grand Slams.
Securing the coveted trophy on home soil remains the ultimate objective for the lightning-fast baseliner.
Jannik Sinner has broken Novak Djokovic’s 10-year record for consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1000 events following a dominant straight-sets victory over Corentin Moutet at the Miami Open.
The Italian world number two dispatched his French opponent 6-1 6-4 in just 71 minutes to comfortably reach the last 16.
He has now claimed 26 consecutive sets at the prestigious tier of tournaments sitting strictly below the Grand Slams.
This remarkable run definitively eclipses the previous benchmark of 24 straight sets established by the 24-time major champion Djokovic.
Unstoppable run towards the Sunshine Double
The 24-year-old initially equalled the historic milestone during his opening match against Damir Dzumhur.
He has remained flawless across recent Masters 1000 appearances, securing titles at Indian Wells earlier this month and Paris last November without dropping a single set.
“I am very happy. This sport is unpredictable, so we try to keep attention as much as we can and we’ll see what is coming in the next round.”
The four-time Grand Slam winner heavily controlled the contest against Moutet from the absolute outset.
He won 19 of the initial 26 points before effortlessly wrapping up the first set in a rapid 22 minutes.
Medvedev exits amid bizarre spider cam drama
The dominant Italian will now face American Alex Michelsen in the next round.
He is fiercely bidding to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’ of winning both Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back.
Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev suffered a shock exit at the hands of Francisco Cerundolo in the last-32 stage.
The Argentine triumphed 6-0 4-6 7-5 to eliminate the recent Indian Wells conqueror of Carlos Alcaraz.
The third-round encounter featured an unusual delay when umpire Mohamed Lahyani’s elevated chair became briefly entangled with the aerial spider camera.
“I didn’t know what to expect, it was a great match, super tough.”
“It was my first match against Daniil. He’s probably one of the only guys on tour who I have never played. He has had a great year so far.”