In a thrilling showdown at the Miami Open, Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s number one, clinched her second title of the year by overpowering Jessica Pegula with a 7-5, 6-2 victory. The first set was a rollercoaster ride, featuring seven service breaks as both players battled fiercely. Ultimately, Sabalenka managed to steal a game from Pegula with a love hold, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Sabalenka proved unshakeable, often relying on her commanding power to escape sticky situations. On the flip side, Pegula struggled to maintain consistency with her serve and found it difficult to counter Sabalenka’s relentless energy. This struggle with powerful returns ultimately led to Pegula’s downfall, preventing her from keeping pace with the world number one.
As the second set progressed, Pegula’s frustration became palpable. Sabalenka, exuding confidence, broke Pegula at 5-2 and sealed the tournament without conceding a single set. Her impressive performance included striking 31 winners compared to Pegula’s 12, underscoring her dominance on the court.
Though she won in Brisbane earlier in the year, Sabalenka entered the Miami Open final on the back of two tough losses—one to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and another to Mirra Andreeva at Indian Wells just a fortnight prior. Reflecting on her victory, Sabalenka, who also beat Pegula in last year’s US Open final, expressed her elation. “I’m speechless,” she admitted. “The last couple of finals were really tough and tight, so going into this one, I centered my focus completely on myself.”
She added, “I played point by point, stayed super concentrated, and earning this title in Miami feels incredibly special.” Sabalenka emphasized the match’s intensity: “It was back and forth the whole way. Even when she broke, I fought back and broke right back.”
Elsewhere, British players Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool faced some tough competition in the men’s doubles final. They put up a commendable fight but ultimately fell 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 against the formidable top seeds Marcelo Arevalo-Gonzalez and Mate Pavic.
