Sabalenka Beats Gauff to Complete Sunshine Double

World No. 1 overpowers Gauff in Miami Open final, winning her second straight title at the event.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:51pm

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Aryna Sabalenka, the world's top-ranked women's tennis player, defeated Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Miami Open final on Saturday. The victory made Sabalenka the first player to accomplish the 'Sunshine Double' - winning both the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles in the same season - since Iga Swiatek in 2022.

Why it matters

Sabalenka's win over the rising American star Gauff in her hometown tournament solidifies her position as the dominant player on the women's tour. The 'Sunshine Double' is considered one of the most prestigious accomplishments in tennis, and Sabalenka's ability to win both prestigious events back-to-back is a testament to her talent and consistency.

The details

Sabalenka overpowered Gauff with her powerful groundstrokes, breaking the American's serve four times. Gauff fought back to force a third set, but couldn't maintain the momentum as Sabalenka broke her early in the decider. The match lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes, with Sabalenka registering no double faults compared to seven for Gauff.

  • The match took place on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • Sabalenka won the Indian Wells title two weeks prior, on March 19, 2026.

The players

Aryna Sabalenka

The world No. 1 women's tennis player, who won her second straight Miami Open title and completed the 'Sunshine Double' with this victory.

Coco Gauff

The fourth-ranked women's player, who was playing in her hometown tournament in Miami but fell short in the final against the dominant Sabalenka.

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What they’re saying

“You've pushed me to be a better player.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

“It sucks not to come out with a better result but I had a lot of joy this week. You guys brought energy every day this week.”

— Coco Gauff

“I shouldn't be that rude, but come on, you cannot do that. So let's agree we were both wrong, so sorry.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

What’s next

Sabalenka will look to continue her dominant run on the women's tour, while Gauff will aim to bounce back and challenge for more titles in the coming months.

The takeaway

Sabalenka's victory in the Miami Open final, completing the prestigious 'Sunshine Double', cements her status as the top player in women's tennis and demonstrates her ability to win big titles on the biggest stages.