The world No. 1 has done it again, as Aryna Sabalenka took down No. 3 Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to win her second straight Miami Open title on Saturday — and complete her first-ever Sunshine Double championship.
"You're a fighter, and you also push me so hard to be a better player," Sabalenka told Gauff after the win, gaining a narrow 7-6 head-to-head career record advantage over the US star. "I like our rivalry."
Along with the 2026 Indian Wells Open trophy she booked earlier this month, her Saturday win makes Sabalenka just the fifth women's tennis player to complete the annual US spring hardcourt tournament sweep, joining retired stars Steffi Graf (1994, 1996) and Kim Clijsters (2005) as well as current No. 204 Victoria Azarenka (2016) and No. 4 Iga Świątek (2022) in accomplishing the feat.
The top-ranked competitor is also on track to make even more tennis history: Should Sabalenka return from the upcoming clay season to win the 2026 Cincinnati Open, she will become the first WTA star to ever hold all four US-based major titles — the US Open plus the three WTA 1000 tournaments — at the same time.
As for chasing history, however, the 27-year-old is taking it one tournament and one match at a time.
"I'm just trying to go as far as possible in this sport and to inspire next generation," Sabalenka said.
How to watch Sabalenka, other top WTA stars
Though Sabalenka's next confirmed competition will be alongside the rest of tennis' Top 20 at the 2026 Madrid Open beginning on April 21st, the WTA officially kicked off its clay season at the Charleston Open on Monday.
Seeded stars, including US standouts No. 5 Jessica Pegula, No. 16 Iva Jovic, and No. 18 Madison Keys, will take the court in South Carolina beginning with Tuesday's Round of 32.
Coverage of the 2026 Charleston Open airs live on the Tennis Channel.
