MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Aryna Sabalenka stepped onto the court for the Miami Open final against Jessica Pegula, boasting an impressive 18 titles on her remarkable resume.
The coveted Miami Open trophy had always seemed just out of reach for her…until Saturday.
The top seed from Belarus showcased her dominance, defeating fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula with a score of 7-5, 6-2, finally claiming her inaugural title at the Miami Open in a thrilling rematch of the 2024 U.S. Open final.
Sabalenka unleashed her formidable forehand, racking up 24 winners to secure the stunning $1.1 million prize. She sealed the match with a stunning backhand passing shot on match point, raising her hands in triumph, glancing heavenward, and blowing a kiss to the sky.
“Thank goodness the rain held off,” Sabalenka expressed during the trophy presentation. “It felt like Miami was shedding tears of joy for my victory here.’’
A celebrated three-time Grand Slam champion, Sabalenka previously bested Pegula in straight sets at the U.S. Open, yet her luck in finals had been elusive until now.
The 26-year-old powerhouse has reached the finals in four out of six events this year, ultimately capturing one title in Brisbane before her Miami triumph. However, she faced heartbreak in the finals of both the Australian Open and Indian Wells—the tournament leading to Miami.
Now a resident of Miami, Sabalenka proudly showcased the hand-blown crystal trophy in her interview. “Finally, I was able to bring my best game to the finals,’’ she said with a beaming smile. “This trophy is truly beautiful, and it feels like home here, even amidst my constant travel.”
Looking ahead, Sabalenka plans to relish two weeks in Miami before the transition to clay season.
“My team is so worn out, so we will take it easy today. But tomorrow, I’m going to treat them to drinks, burgers, and pizza for some celebration,” Sabalenka laughed. “We definitely need to honor this moment after enduring those tough finals.”
During the presentation ceremony, Pegula offered heartfelt praise to Sabalenka: “You deserve to be the best player in the world. Your game pushes all of us to improve. The level you’re playing at is simply incredible.”
While Sabalenka recently settled in South Florida, Pegula, a 31-year-old from Buffalo, enjoyed a home-court advantage having lived in Boca Raton since she was 13. She is the daughter of Terry Pegula, the owner of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance, coinciding with the league’s owners meetings scheduled for Monday in nearby Palm Beach. Pegula’s father was also present to support her.
“It’s fascinating to see how this venue has transformed from a Dolphins-Bills game to a tennis arena,” Pegula remarked.
Pegula encountered Goodell, whom she had met previously, shortly before the match. “He was with his family in the cafeteria an hour before we started. I had no idea he was coming! It was a funny coincidence,” she said, smiling.
Both athletes struggled to maintain their serves in the first set, with Sabalenka managing to break Pegula’s serve four times to clinch it at 7-5, finishing with a flourish by winning the last eight points consecutively.
With the score at 5-5, Sabalenka held serve confidently at love, followed by a break of Pegula’s serve at love, delivering three straight winners—two of which were net play.
“She knows how to hit the lines when it matters, and her big serves keep coming,” Pegula acknowledged.
With a 7-2 advantage in their head-to-head match-up, Sabalenka has triumphed in their last three encounters — each of which was a final. Pegula expressed her frustrations about the streak. “It feels like Aryna has become virtually unstoppable on hard courts over the past year,” she remarked. “I appreciate the challenge, but I’m starting to get a bit tired of playing against her.”
Pegula chuckled, adding, “I honestly don’t know if I would have won against someone else. But the reality is, Aryna has three titles now.”
In the men’s doubles final that preceded the women’s match, rain interrupted play in the second set with top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic leading No. 6 Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool at 7-6, 3-2, 30-30.
Arevalo and Pavic quickly concluded the championship with a score of 7-6, 6-3, but the rain delay pushed back the 3 p.m. women’s final by over an hour.
