Imperious Aryna Sabalenka secures Miami Open crown with dominant win over Jessica Pegula

Aryna Sabalenka claims her 8th WTA 1000 title and first Miami Open trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2. This marks the third consecutive final where Sabalenka has beaten the American, extending her head-to-head lead to 7-2 (4-2 on hard courts).

The world No. 1 had an impeccable run, winning the title without dropping a set and defeating top rivals like Danielle Collins (No. 14), Zheng Qinwen (No. 9), Jasmine Paolini (No. 6), and now Jessica Pegula (No. 4). The Belarusian remains comfortably at the top of the rankings and heads into the clay swing in top form.

Sabalenka faced early difficulties holding serve, saving two break points before securing the first game. Just when Pegula seemed to be gaining momentum, the Belarusian struck with a love break to take a 2-0 lead.

However, the set saw multiple service breaks from both players. Pegula responded by winning three consecutive games, only for Sabalenka to break back and level at 3-3. While Sabalenka’s aggressive play put Pegula under pressure, the American held her ground from the baseline, forcing the world No. 1 into errors.

Sabalenka capitalized on a key break to move ahead 5-3, giving herself the chance to serve for the set. But Pegula maintained her consistency, breaking back to level at 5-5. However, Sabalenka remained flawless in the closing stages, winning eight consecutive points to take the set 7-5. Both players finished the set with 16 unforced errors, but Sabalenka held the edge in winners, striking 16 compared to Pegula’s 8.

The inconsistency on serve continued early on, with both players exchanging breaks for a 1-1 scoreline. Sabalenka, who had already created several break opportunities, capitalized on Pegula’s second serves, breaking after four chances to take a 3-1 lead.

The Belarusian’s aggressive approach yielded more winners, and her strong service games left Pegula with little chance of a comeback. While the American found some rhythm on serve, she faced pressure at 2-5 down.

Struggling to win points on her second serve, Pegula ultimately couldn’t hold, handing the title to Sabalenka with a 7-5, 6-2 victory. The 3-time Grand Slam champion dominated the second set, hitting 15 winners to Pegula’s 4, sealing a commanding win.