Recent doubts about Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance in the PIF WTA Rankings have been decisively dispelled this month. After skipping February, the World No. 1 has stormed through March, winning her first Indian Wells title by defeating rival Elena Rybakina in an exhilarating three-set final, and she has followed it up with five more victories in Miami, again besting Rybakina, this time in a more convincing manner.
Now, the four-time Grand Slam champion is just one win away from completing the Sunshine Double, a feat not achieved by a WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz player since 2022. To achieve this, she faces not just one but two of her toughest competitors.
Sabalenka is set to play Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday (not before 3:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. GMT). In the first semifinal on Thursday, Gauff easily defeated Karolina Muchova with a score of 6-1, 6-1, securing her first Miami final appearance.
Contrasting with Sabalenka’s strong position, Gauff’s path to the tournament final was fraught with uncertainty. After a left arm injury caused her to retire during a match against Alexandra Eala at Indian Wells, the World No. 4 contemplated withdrawing from Miami. She acknowledged that had her injury occurred at another time, she likely would have opted for recovery.
Nevertheless, Miami holds special meaning for her as a bucket list event. Gauff, eager to finally achieve a significant result after never surpassing the fourth round here, found her way to the final. However, she’ll need to defeat the hottest player in the world to check this off her list.
The Case for Coco Gauff
This past week has been a challenge for Gauff, with four consecutive matches going to three sets—two of which required her to rally from a set down. Despite the grind, she appeared more energized and strong than she has all season during her semifinal against Muchova. Gauff’s speed and athleticism allowed her to dominate points, breaking Muchova six times and winning 80 percent of points on Muchova’s second serve.
The Case for Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka’s current form is astounding, making her incredibly tough to beat. The last set she dropped to someone other than Rybakina was on November 7, 2025, and she’s recently triumphed over Rybakina twice in a row. Missing February, the 27-year-old holds an impressive record of 22 wins to just one loss this season, having claimed 46 of her 48 sets. In Miami, she has had an easy time, needing only one tiebreaker across all her sets.
Sabalenka’s performance against Rybakina was particularly striking, as she saved a match point in the Indian Wells final before defeating her more easily in Miami. With a winning percentage of 83 on first serves and nine aces, she has dominated her matches, now holding a remarkable streak of 21 consecutive sets won in Miami dating back to 2024.
With 12 matches against Gauff in her past, Sabalenka is familiar with what to expect from her opponent. She is looking forward to a thrilling contest, describing it as one filled with emotion and intensity. If Sabalenka continues her powerful serving, she will put herself in a strong position to secure her third title of 2026 and the 24th of her career.
