MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Aryna Sabalenka entered the Miami Open ultimate towards Jessica Pegula with 18 profession titles on her elite resume.
The Miami Open crown had proved elusive till Saturday.
The No. 1 seed from Belarus knocked off fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 for her first Miami Open title in a rematch of the 2024 U.S. Open ultimate.
Sabalenka fired up her deadly forehand in posting 22 winners on that wing to win the $1.1 million first prize. Sabalenka hit a backhand passing shot on match level after which she raised each palms to the air and seemed as much as the sky.
“Thank God the rain stopped,” Sabalenka stated, lauding the gang after the victory. “It was like Miami was crying that I gained this event. I loved taking part in right here, each minute of it.”
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had gained the U.S. Open over Pegula, additionally in straight units, 7-5, 7-5, however in 2025, Sabalenka’s finals luck had run out.
The 26-year-old energy participant had reached the finals of 4 of six occasions this yr, although solely copped one title (Brisbane) earlier than Miami. Sabalenka misplaced within the finals of the Australian Open and at Indian Wells — the occasion that preceded Miami.
Sabalenka now lives in Miami however Pegula had the gang help. Pegula, a 31-year-old Buffalo native, has lived in Boca Raton since she was 13 and is daughter of Terry Pegula, proprietor of the Buffalo Payments and Sabres. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance because the league homeowners conferences takes place Monday in close by Palm Seaside.
“Congrats to you, Aryna, and your crew,” Pegula stated in accepting the runner-up trophy on the courtroom. “I actually, actually do not wish to such as you proper now. However, you realize, you are the very best participant on the earth for a purpose. And you retain pushing everyone and everybody to get higher.”
Neither participant might maintain serve nicely within the first set. Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve 4 occasions and gained it 7-5, profitable the final eight factors of the set.
Pegula was up a break at 3-2 however could not maintain it in a topsy-turvy set that additionally noticed Pegula break Sabalenka’s serve 3 times.
At 5-5, Sabalenka held serve at love for 6-5 lead, then broke Pegula at love after hitting three straight winners – two on the internet.
Sabalenka leads the collection vs. Pegula 7-2 and has gained the final three conferences.
The boys’s doubles ultimate, first on the cardboard, was stopped by rain within the second set with No. 1 seed Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic main No. 6 Julian Money/Lloyd Glasspool 7-6, 3-2. 30-30. Arevalo/Pavic closed out the championship rapidly 7-6, 6-3, however the rain delay brought about the three p.m. girls’s ultimate to start multiple hour tardy.
The Related Press contributed to this report.