World No. 1 Sabalenka Finishes Brilliant Miami Open Run With Final Win Over Pegula
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Aryna Sabalenka added another trophy to her collection after beating Jessica Pegula in the 2025 Miami Open final.
Sabalenka is the World No. 1 player for a reason, and she played like that at the WTA 1000 event in Miami. On her way to the final, the Belarusian player dominated against all of her opponents, never allowing anyone to win more than eight games.
Her run included wins over the likes of Qinwen Zheng and Danielle Collins, and she also bested Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 6-2. But Pegula's run to the final was impressive as well. The American player had to beat the likes of Emma Raducanu and Marta Kostyuk.
Both of these players know each other really well, having played against each other in the US Open final last September, and in the Cincinnati Open final only a few weeks before that. Although seven of their eight matches ended in straight sets, they were always very close.
In fact, the last three sets that these two players played ended 7-5, showing how small margins decide their matches. And that was the case this time around as well.
Sabalenka had to save two break points already in the first game of the set, and that was the first time she showed how important it is to play big points well. She saved both and won the opening game.
After that, the top seed broke Pegula's serve to love, and led 2-0. But the American player then found an inspired level. She won the next three games, breaking Sabalenka's serve twice to lead 3-2.
But Pegula's lead didn't last too long. The WTA World No. 4 player was broken in the next game, and after Sabalenka's hold to love the scoreboard showed 4-3 for the Belarusian player.
The three-time Grand Slam champion then broke again to lead 5-3, but she couldn't serve out the set, as Pegula broke back once more to level the score at 5-5.
But the last part of this set was Sabalenka's. The 26-year-old player won eight consecutive points to win the first set of the match 7-5. It was the fourth consecutive set between these two players that ended 7-5, all for Sabalenka.
After losing the opening set, Pegula started better in the second set. She broke in the opening game and enjoyed a one-break lead, but again, not for too long.
Sabalenka responded by breaking back, and the World No. 1 player was even able to add another break to lead 3-1. In this set, the two-time Australian Open champion served much better, avoiding any issues after earning that one-break lead.
The top seed continued pushing Pegula, and she ultimately created another break point chance at 5-2, which was also a match point. The American player saved that, but it still couldn't save her from a loss.
Sabalenka created another match point chance, and that was enough for her to win this match 7-5, 6-2, securing the 2025 Miami Open title. It is her first WTA 1000 title of the season.
