Aryna Sabalenka beats Jessica Pegula in Miami Open final for 19th tour title..
— Aryna Sabalenka entered the Miami Open final against Jessica Pegula with 18 career titles on her elite resume.
The Miami Open crown had proved elusive until 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 final.
Sabalenka fired up her lethal forehand in posting 24 winners on that wing to win the $1.1 million first prize. Sabalenka hit a backhand passing shot on match point after which she raised both hands to the air, looked up to the sky and blew a kiss.
“Thank God the rain stopped,” Sabalenka said during the trophy ceremony. “It was like Miami was crying that I won this tournament.’’
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had won the U.S. Open over Pegula, also in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5, but in 2025, Sabalenka’s finals luck had run out.
The 26-year-old power player has reached the finals of four of six events this year, though only copped one title, in Brisbane, before adding Miami. Sabalenka lost in the finals of the Australian Open and at Indian Wells — the event that preceded Miami.
Sabalenka, who now lives in Miami, brought the hand-blown crystal trophy to the interview room. “Finally I was able to play my best tennis in the finals,’’ Sabalenka said. “I’m super happy to hold this beautiful trophy. I feel like home here, even though I’m traveling every week, it still feels like home.’’
Sabalenka said she will spend the next two weeks in Miami, relaxing before the clay season.
BIO: While Sabalenka is a recent South Florida resident, Pegula, a 31-year-old Buffalo native, had the crowd support. Pegula has lived in Boca Raton since she was 13 and is daughter of Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
____
0 Comments