Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka seals ‘Sunshine Double’ with win over local favourite Coco Gauff
Belarusian world No 1 overpowers fourth-ranked American to improve record to 23-1 this season, her only loss being the Australian Open final
Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff in the Miami Open women’s singles final on Saturday, winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to become the first player to accomplish the “Sunshine Double” since Iga Swiatek in 2022.
The world No 1 overpowered fourth-ranked Gauff in the first and third sets with sizzling groundstroke winners and followed up her win at Indian Wells with also taking Miami in the same season.
Sabalenka took home the US$1.15 million winner’s cheque and became the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double, joining Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Swiatek.
She improved to 23-1 this season, with her only loss at the Australian Open.
On the men’s side, world No 2 Jannik Sinner will try to emulate Sabalenka’s feat when he faces Jiri Lehecka of Czechia on Sunday, Miami time. He would be the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to achieve the double.
The Miami win was Sabalenka’s second straight title at the Miami Open, Gauff’s hometown tournament, and put her ahead of Gauff in their head-to-head record, 7-6.