Defying the host nation's hopes, Sabalenka successfully defends her Miami Open title, achieving a remarkable milestone.

Aryna Sabalenka continues to assert her world number one position by overcoming Coco Gauff in the Miami Open 2026 championship match, thereby securing her title defense and marking a historic, notable achievement.

By winning the Miami Open, Sabalenka claims the prestigious Sunshine Double.

In a match lasting 2 hours and 9 minutes, Sabalenka secured victory with scores of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. The Belarusian player started dominantly, quickly gaining advantage in the first set. Although Gauff demonstrated strong fighting spirit to push the match into a deciding set, Sabalenka's composure and superior serving ability ultimately decided the outcome.

This title makes Sabalenka the first player to complete the "Sunshine Double" (winning Indian Wells and Miami consecutively) since Iga Swiatek in 2022, and the fifth in history to achieve this, joining legends like Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.

Moreover, Sabalenka becomes the first player to win the Miami Open two years in a row since Serena Williams' dominant era. She lost only one set throughout her title defense journey, showcasing extremely stable form.

This is Sabalenka's 24th WTA singles career title, further solidifying the world number one ranking she has held for a long period. With 76 consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings, the 26-year-old player is approaching historic records.

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, despite her defeat, put on a commendable performance. The American player is projected to rise to world number three and promises to be a major rival for Sabalenka as the clay court season begins, especially given her past French Open triumph.

With her current form, Sabalenka is not only the Miami Open champion but also the absolute dominant force in women's world tennis.