She is the world No.1 and a Miami Open champion for the first time.
2025 hadn't been kind in big finals for Aryna Sabalenka going down to Maddison Keys in the Australian Open decider and Mirra Andreeva in Indian Wells, but on a dreary overcast day in South Florida, she got the better of fourth seed Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to win her 19th career trophy and eighth at 1000 level.
The first set was a real struggle with six breaks of serve overall, but in 45 minutes was able to get the early front running. In the second set, she was able to set the tone fairly early on and create a more comfortable buffer to prevail in straight sets for her 23rd win for the season (23-4)
The power game was on full display with 32 winners, with assertive tennis at the back end of both sets. Every time you sit courtside for a Sabalenka match you always feel the game is on her racquet, but as she said: " It gives me a lot of confidence, but when I miss shots, it builds a lot of frustration "
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The 26-year-old is No.1 in the WTA Race on 3580 points, 500 points ahead of Maddison Keys and in the overall rankings is just 3000 points clear of Iga Swiatek.
Her attention now turns to the clay, a surface where she is certainly comfortable, but one in which she would love to end the dominance of Iga Swaitek, particularly at Roland Garros.
Sabalenka is great for the game on and off the court and her standing in the game will increase tenfold if she can conquer the clay and grass to match her hard court dominance.
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