Aryna Sabalenka backed up her Indian Wells title with a victory on Saturday at the Miami Masters, defeating Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

The world No. 1 solidified her spot atop the WTA rankings as she held off Florida local Gauff after nearly two and a quarter-hours.

The win was revenge for losses Sabalenka took to the American at the 2023 U.S. Open and 2025 Roland Garros finals.

Sabalenka leads the series 7-6 after playing Gauff in three finals last season including the WTA Finals in Saudi last November.

Gauff had never passed the fourth round in Miami.

The American challenger levelled the final at a set apiece with a break of serve i the concluding game,

But Sabalenka began the deciding third with a break in the first game and clinched victory with another in the final game to lift the trophy, her second of the season after Indian Wells to complete the March Sunshine Double.

She is the first to do so since Iga Swiatek four years ago and is the fifth to complete the feat after Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Swiatek.

Sabalenka backed up her 2025 title here, lifting a second trophy to become the fist since Serena Williams won in 2013-2015. 

She now owns 24th WTA singles title including four Grand Slam singles trophies.

The winner claimed the title after dropping just one set over the 12-day event, notching her 12th consecutive victory and improving to 23-1 this season.

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