Aryna Sabalenka Triumphs Over Jessica Pegula to Claim Miami Open Title

Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to win the Miami Open, claiming her eighth WTA 1000 title. The world No. 1 displayed a dominant performance, firing 31 winners and securing three consecutive wins over Pegula in finals. This victory strengthens her top ranking and sets her up for the clay court season.

Aryna Sabalenka Triumphs Over Jessica Pegula to Claim Miami Open Title

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka showcased her dominance once again by defeating No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the Miami Open final at Hard Rock Stadium. With this victory, Sabalenka secured her eighth career WTA 1000 title and became the 12th top-ranked player in history to win the prestigious tournament.

Sabalenka, a Miami resident, has now beaten Pegula in three consecutive finals, following her triumphs in Cincinnati and the US Open last summer. She now holds a commanding 7-2 head-to-head record against the American.

Demonstrating her aggressive baseline game, Sabalenka fired an impressive 31 winners, nearly three times Pegula’s total of 12. This commanding performance ensured she lifted the winner’s trophy after falling short in the Australian Open finals and the BNP Paribas Open earlier this season.

Reflecting on her victory, Sabalenka expressed her excitement: “I felt all the support throughout this week. This trophy is very special to me. If I had lost today, it would have been tough to come back home with so many memories of the Miami Open. So I’m thrilled to return as the champion.”

Key Moments in the Match

The end of the first set epitomized Sabalenka’s dominance. Leading 6-5, she struck three consecutive winners to earn a triple set point before a powerful forehand sealed the set in her favor.

“In this match, I focused on staying strong mentally, fighting for every point, and not allowing myself to dwell on any setbacks,” Sabalenka said. “I didn’t want to lose another final. That [6-5] game was on another level, and I’m so happy I was able to put everything together.”

The turning point in the second set came at 2-1 when Pegula fought back from 0-40 to deuce, only for Sabalenka to unleash back-to-back forehand winners to secure the crucial break. From there, the Belarusian maintained her momentum, closing out the match convincingly.

A Milestone Victory

Sabalenka’s triumph in Miami marks the first time she has defeated three Top 10 players en route to a WTA 1000 title. She previously overcame Zheng Qinwen and Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, without dropping a set throughout the tournament.

This victory not only cements Sabalenka’s position at the top of the WTA rankings but also propels her to No. 1 in the Race to the WTA Finals standings, surpassing Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

With the hardcourt season behind her, Sabalenka now sets her sights on the upcoming clay court swing, carrying momentum and confidence into the next phase of the season.