Miami, 29 March (H.S.): World number one Aryna Sabalenka delivered a masterclass on Saturday night to dismantle home favorite Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Miami Open 2026 final, clinching the title and etching her name into history as only the fifth woman to achieve the prestigious Sunshine Double.

The defending champion capped off an impeccable tournament run by conquering the Sunshine Double—claiming back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and Miami—a rare feat previously accomplished by legends like Iga Swiatek, Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters, and Steffi Graf.

Sabalenka stormed the first set, racing to a 2-0 lead and dominating Gauff to wrap it up 6-2 with ruthless efficiency. Gauff fought back fiercely in the second, snagging the only break of the set to force a decider at 6-4 and keep the home crowd roaring.

In the third, Sabalenka regained total control early with a break, then held firm through stellar service games to build a 5-3 edge. Gauff's backhand error sealed the deal, handing Sabalenka the victory amid thunderous applause.

She won 73 percent of first-serve points and faced just two break points all match—remarkably reaching the final without dropping a single set.

This triumph pushes her 2026 record to a stellar 23-1; her lone loss came in the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina, a defeat she avenged in the Indian Wells final and Miami semifinals.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar