Coco Gauff fell agonizingly short of a memorable title after losing 2-6, 6-4, 3-6 to Aryna Sabalenka in the Miami Open final.
Gauff has just lost her first hard-court final, having won all nine of her previous matches at that stage.
Home favorite Gauff really wants to win the Miami Open, but she must now wait for another year, when Sabalenka will be chasing a third successive title.
The WTA number one defeated Jessica Pegula in last year’s Miami Open final, while this year she has just completed the Sunshine Double, having won Indian Wells too.
Sabalenka ultimately deserved the win after two hours and nine minutes of action, but Gauff must take confidence from her valiant efforts.
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Coco Gauff should take confidence after taking set off Aryna Sabalenka
Gauff has experienced a roller-coaster season so far, recently retiring hurt in just her second match at Indian Wells.
But she has bounced back in stunning fashion, beating the likes of Belinda Bencic and Karolina Muchova before narrowly losing to Sabalenka in Miami.
The run alone should do wonders for her confidence, but so will the fact that she is the only player other than Elena Rybakina to take a set off the world number one in 2026.
Rybakina took two off Sabalenka as she won their Australian Open final, and one as the latter exacted her revenge in the Indian Wells final.
Gauff has now repeated that scenario, achieving a rare feat that is clearly not easy to do amid Sabalenka’s current form.
Their latest battle also proved an important mental aspect of the game, with the American clearly not intimidated by her WTA rival, unlike many others.
Such intimidation is understandable, with the Belarusian now boasting a phenomenal 23-1 record for 2026.
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Coco Gauff returns poorly in Miami Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka
Gauff will be quick to analyse her latest display, which now means she’s slipped to a 6-7 head-to-head record against Sabalenka.
Worryingly, her serving struggles came to the fore once again, most significantly through seven double faults, with her opponent not hitting any.
But the home favorite recorded more aces (5-3) and a better first serve figure (66.3%-60.3%) than Sabalenka, which she should welcome with open arms.
However, really letting her down was her return, with the runner-up finishing the match with just 30.8% of her total return points won.
She posted figures of 25.5% and 38.7% for first return points won and second return points won respectively, both well behind her opponent.
| Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | |
| 33.8% 22/65 | 1st return points won | 25.5% 12/47 |
| 54.5% 18/33 | 2nd return points won | 38.7% 12/31 |
| 36.4% 4/11 | Break points converted | 50% 1/2 |
| 14 | Return games played | 13 |
Of course, the aggression from Sabalenka is extremely difficult to defend against, but it is perhaps an area that Gauff will look to improve upon as she enters the clay season.
She’ll do so as the new WTA number three after her run in Miami, and indeed as the 2025 French Open champion.
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