Miami Open: Sunshine Double for Sabalenka, Sinner One Win Away
World number one Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant run at the Miami Open 2026. She defeated Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to retain the title.
With this win, Sabalenka completed the famous ‘Sunshine Double’, winning both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.
Earlier this month, Sabalenka defeated Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in the Indian Wells Open Final.
Miami Open 2026: Sabalenka Joins Elite List
Sabalenka became only the fifth woman to achieve the Sunshine Double. She is also the first since Iga Swiatek, who won the famous double in 2022.
The other players to achieve this feat are Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters and Steffi Graf.
Her 2026 season has been exceptional. She has now won 3 WTA titles and 23 of her 24 matches this year.
Her only loss came in the Australian Open final in January against world number two Elena Rybakina. Until this Miami final, Rybakina was the only player to take a set off Sabalenka in 2026. Coco Gauff became the second by pushing the match into a decider.
Sabalenka said after the win:
“I haven’t had a moment to stop, look back and realise what’s happened in the past months. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done and the fight I was able to bring on court. Coco will fight for every opportunity and she played incredibly, but I was mentally strong. I knew I was doing everything right and it was just a matter of a few points.”
How the Women’s Final Played Out
Sabalenka started strong. She broke Gauff in the opening game and took the first set 6-2 comfortably.
Gauff fought back in the second set. She saved break points at 2-2 and 3-3. She then converted a set point on Sabalenka’s serve to win the set 4-6.
In the deciding set, Sabalenka broke early again. That proved decisive. She closed the match on her first match point when Gauff hit a backhand wide.
Despite the loss, Gauff will rise to world number three, moving above Iga Swiatek in the rankings.
Before this match, their head-to-head record stood at 6-6. Both of Gauff’s two Grand Slam titles came in finals against Sabalenka.
Miami Open 2026: Sinner Marches Into Another Final
In the men’s final, Jannik Sinner has reached yet another Miami Open 2026 final.
The world number two defeated Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-final. This win marked his seventh consecutive victory over Zverev.
Sinner will now face Czech 21st seed Jiri Lehecka in the final.
Sinner Eyes Sunshine Double at Miami Open
Like Sabalenka, Sinner is chasing the Sunshine Double. He recently won the Indian Wells Open against Daniil Medvedev in straight sets and now aims to add the Miami title against Lehecka.
7 men have completed it, including legends like Novak Djokovic (4 times), Roger Federer (3 times), Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras, Marcelo Rios and Andre Agassi.
Sinner is targeting his second Miami Open title in 3 years. Make your Miami Open Final prediction.
If he wins, Sinner will become the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the Sunshine Double.
Sinner is a 4-time Grand Slam winner and the reigning Wimbledon champion. He has also been in strong form against top players. He defeated Zverev earlier this month in the Indian Wells semi-finals as well.