Sabalenka and Gauff to Face Off in Miami Open Final

Top-seeded Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka defends her title against rising American star Coco Gauff.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:49am

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Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will take on American rising star Coco Gauff in the final of the 2026 Miami Open tennis tournament. This will be the 13th meeting between the two players, with the series currently tied at 6-6. Gauff, who is from South Florida, is making her first appearance in the Miami Open final, while Sabalenka is seeking to win the 'Sunshine Double' by capturing both the Indian Wells and Miami titles.

Why it matters

The matchup between Sabalenka and Gauff has become one of the most compelling rivalries in women's tennis over the past few years. Both players have won multiple Grand Slam titles and are among the top-ranked players in the world, making their clash in the Miami final a highly anticipated event.

The details

Sabalenka, the world No. 1 player, is the defending champion in Miami and is attempting to win the 'Sunshine Double' by following up her Indian Wells title with another victory. Gauff, who is from nearby Delray Beach, Florida, is making her first appearance in the Miami Open final after never advancing past the fourth round in her hometown tournament previously. The two players have faced each other 12 times, with the series tied at 6-6, including three finals meetings in 2025.

  • The Miami Open final will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 3 p.m. EDT.
  • Sabalenka won the Indian Wells title on March 15, 2026 by defeating Elena Rybakina.
  • Gauff had to retire from her third-round match at Indian Wells due to a nerve injury in her left forearm.

The players

Aryna Sabalenka

The top-seeded Belarusian player and defending champion of the Miami Open. She is currently ranked world No. 1 and is seeking to win the 'Sunshine Double' by capturing both the Indian Wells and Miami titles.

Coco Gauff

The rising American star from Delray Beach, Florida who is making her first appearance in the Miami Open final. Gauff has won multiple Grand Slam titles and has a 6-6 head-to-head record against Sabalenka.

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What they’re saying

“We've played so many matches, and it's physical when I play her every time. She's playing great tennis. She's definitely world No. 1 for a reason and it's going to be a great challenge.”

— Coco Gauff

“She's a fighter. She's a great player. We played a lot of tight matches, a lot of big finals. She is an incredible player. I'm really excited to face her in the final. I think it's going to be a great battle. I cannot wait to play that.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

What’s next

The winner of the Miami Open final will earn a significant boost in their quest to finish the year as the world No. 1 player.

The takeaway

The highly anticipated matchup between Sabalenka and Gauff in the Miami Open final showcases the rising talent and growing rivalry in women's tennis, with two of the sport's top players battling for a prestigious title in front of a passionate South Florida crowd.