Coco Gauff Upsets World No. 1 Sabalenka to Win Miami Open

The 22-year-old American claims her third Grand Slam title in a thrilling three-set final.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:38pm

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In a highly anticipated matchup, 22-year-old American Coco Gauff defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set thriller to win the 2026 Miami Open women's singles title. Gauff, the fourth-ranked player in the world, came back from a set down to defeat the top-seeded Sabalenka 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 in front of a raucous home crowd at Hard Rock Stadium.

Why it matters

Gauff's victory over the dominant Sabalenka marks her third Grand Slam title and further cements her status as one of the rising stars of women's tennis. The win also continues Gauff's impressive record against Sabalenka, whom she has now defeated in two of their three Grand Slam final matchups.

The details

After dropping the first set, Gauff regained her composure and used the energy of the partisan Miami crowd to battle back and take the second set in a tiebreaker. In the decisive third set, Gauff broke Sabalenka's serve early and held on to clinch the championship. Sabalenka, who had been nearly unbeatable this season with a 22-1 record, struggled at times with her aggressive style leading to unforced errors.

  • The Miami Open women's singles final was played on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • Gauff and Sabalenka have now met 13 times in their careers, with Gauff holding a 7-6 edge in the head-to-head matchup.

The players

Coco Gauff

A 22-year-old American tennis player who is currently ranked fourth in the world. Gauff has now won three Grand Slam singles titles, including two victories over Sabalenka in major finals.

Aryna Sabalenka

The world No. 1 tennis player from Belarus, who entered the Miami Open final with a dominant 22-1 record on the season. Sabalenka was seeking her first Miami Open title.

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What they’re saying

“This is such an incredible feeling. To win in front of this amazing crowd in Miami is a dream come true. I'm so proud of the fight I showed to come back and beat the world No. 1.”

— Coco Gauff

“Coco played an incredible match today. She was the better player when it mattered most. I'll learn from this experience and come back stronger.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

What’s next

Gauff will look to carry the momentum from her Miami Open triumph into the upcoming clay court season, where she will aim to add to her Grand Slam title collection. Sabalenka, meanwhile, will regroup and seek to regain the world No. 1 ranking in the coming months.

The takeaway

Coco Gauff's thrilling victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the Miami Open final underscores her status as one of the brightest young stars in women's tennis. The win also highlights Gauff's ability to rise to the occasion in high-pressure situations, having now defeated Sabalenka in two of their three Grand Slam final matchups.