Aryna Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, to win the Miami Open.
In doing so, Sabalenka completed the Sunshine Double, having already won Indian Wells earlier this month.
It was the perfect end to a perfect month for Sabalenka, who continues to prove why she’s the world number one.
How many Grand Slams will Aryna Sabalenka win this year?
She looks unstoppable right now!
The Belarusian has now won 11 WTA 1000 titles, moving her level with one of her greatest rivals…
Aryna Sabalenka equals Iga Swiatek for WTA 1000 title wins
Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have now both won 11 WTA 1000 titles.
They sit second on the list of WTA 1000 champions (since the format was introduced in 2009), behind only the great Serena Williams.
Most WTA 1000 titles since 2009
| Rank | Name | Country | Titles |
| 1 | Serena Williams | USA | 13 |
| T-2 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | 11 |
| T-2 | Iga Swiatek | Poland | 11 |
| 4 | Victoria Azarenka | Belarus | 10 |
| T-5 | Simona Halep | Romania | 9 |
| T-5 | Petra Kvitova | Czechia | 9 |
For several years, Sabalenka and Swiatek have dominated women’s tennis, so it’s no surprise to see them this high on the leaderboard.
What is perhaps more interesting, is the direction both players are heading.
While they are tied for second, only one player looks likely to take Williams’ record, on current form, at least.
The Pole failed to win a match in Miami, prompting Swiatek to fire her coach, Wim Fissette.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, has just won her third title of the season, becoming just the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double.
Women to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’
- 2026 – Aryna Sabalenka
- 2022 – Iga Swiatek
- 2016 – Victoria Azarenka
- 2005 – Kim Clijsters
- 1994/1996 – Steffi Graf
As they head onto clay, one player is on top of the world, literally, and the other is searching for answers.
The difference in form is seen clearest when looking at the ‘Live WTA Race’.
Live WTA Race
| Rank | Name | Country | 2026 Points |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | 3,800 |
| 2 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan | 3,483 |
| 3 | Jessica Pegula | USA | 2,406 |
| 4 | Elina Svitolina | Ukraine | 2,255 |
| 5 | Karolina Muchova | Czechia | 1,945 |
| 6 | Victoria Mboko | Canada | 1,927 |
| 7 | Coco Gauff | USA | 1,695 |
| 8 | Mirra Andreeva | Russia | 1,368 |
| 9 | Amanda Anisimova | USA | 1,130 |
| 10 | Belinda Bencic | Switzerland | 1,080 |
| 11 | Iga Swiatek | Poland | 1,020 |
Sabalenka is close to surpassing the 4,000 point mark and sits at the top of the pile, while Swiatek is all the way down in 11th.
If the season were to end today, Swiatek wouldn’t qualify for the WTA Finals, something that’s almost been a given for the 24-year-old ever since she broke through.
There’s no reason for Swiatek to panic just yet, but if she doesn’t find some form soon, Sabalenka will ride off into the distance.
Iga Swiatek still has more Grand Slam wins than Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka is now level with Swiatek for WTA 1000 wins, but at the Grand Slam level, the Pole still has the edge.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Grand Slam wins (4)
| Grand Slam final | Opponent | Score |
| 2023 Australian Open | Elena Rybakina | 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2024 Australian Open | Qinwen Zheng | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2024 US Open | Jessica Pegula | 7-5, 7-5 |
| 2025 US Open | Amanda Anisimova | 6-3, 7-6 |
Iga Swiatek’s Grand Slam wins (6)
| Grand Slam final | Opponent | Score |
| 2020 French Open | Sofia Kenin | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2022 French Open | Coco Gauff | 6-1, 6-3 |
| 2022 US Open | Ons Jabeur | 6-2, 7-6 |
| 2023 French Open | Karolina Muchova | 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 |
| 2024 French Open | Jasmine Paolini | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 2025 Wimbledon | Amanda Anisimova | 6-0, 6-0 |
However, that could well change by the end of the year, with three Grand Slams still to play for.
If Sabalenka were to win all three, which, if she continues to play as well as she is, doesn’t seem all that unlikely, she’ll move ahead of Swiatek onto seven titles.
Neither player will want to concern themselves with Grand Slam talk just yet, though, as there is plenty of tennis to be played between now and the French Open.
Next up is the Stuttgart Open, which begins on Monday, April 13.
