Sabalenka overpowers Pegula again for Miami Open title
Playing in her first Miami final, Aryna Sabalenka took down Jessica Pegula in straight sets on Saturday. It is Sabalenka’s eighth WTA Premier 1000 title.
Aryna Sabalenka, Miami 2025 | © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/Sipa USA
Aryna Sabalenka was not interested in completing the Sunshine Double runner-up.
After losing the Indian Wells final to Mirra Andreeva two weeks ago, Sabalenka won the Miami Open on Saturday afternoon with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Jessica Pegula. The Belarusian broke serve a whopping seven times in two sets to triumph in one hour and 28 minutes. It was her first title in Miami, having never previously advanced past the quarter-finals.
Saturday’s showdown was a rematch of the 2024 US Open final, won by Sabalenka 7-5, 7-5. The world No 1 now leads the head-to-head series 7-2, has won seven of their last eight meetings and all seven of her victories have come in straight sets.
Sabalenka struck three aces, double-faulted once and served at 66 percent. Pegula served at 73 percent, but it hardly mattered. The fourth-ranked American won only 49 percent of her first-serve points and a hopeless 24 percent of her second-serve points.
SABALENKA GETS THE BEST OF BATTLE OF SERVICE BREAKS
Not unlike their US Open final, the first set of Saturday’s showdown was a roller-coaster ride. Sabalenka broke first, dropped her serve twice in a row, got back on serve for 3-3, broke again for 5-3, failed to serve out the set and finally got across the finish line by earning another scalp of Pegula’s serve at 6-5.
After seven service breaks were produced in set one, more of the same continued in the second — when Sabalenka dropped serve right away only to hit back for 1-1. This time the top seed was able to maintain momentum the entire way. She held her serve from there while adding two more breaks — the first for a 3-1 lead and another to clinch victory in style.
Sabalenka converted her second championship point with a blistering down-the-line backhand pass.
“I really don’t want to like you right now,” Pegula joked during the trophy ceremony, “but you’re the best player in the world.”
“If I could share the trophy and points and prize money with someone, it would be with you,” Sabalenka responded. “I really enjoy playing here; I’ve enjoyed every minute. Winning the trophy is super special for me.”
