Martina Navratilova was courtside as Aryna Sabalenka won an enthralling Miami Open final against Coco Gauff last night.
It marked a fitting end to an incredible month of tennis, with the world number one becoming just the fifth woman in history to ever complete the Sunshine Double.
Meanwhile, the American thrived in her hometown and once again proved that she is more than capable not just of reaching top-level finals, but competing with the world’s best as well.
Navratilova, because of these respective narratives, had praise for both victor and loser after the Miami Open final.
She began by praising the defending champion.
Martina Navratilova reacts to the women’s Miami Open final
Speaking live on Tennis Channel, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion initially admitted: “Coco Gauff gave it everything she had. I thought she held her nerve really well.”
However, attention swiftly turned to Aryna Sabalenka, as Navratilova claimed: “But Sabalenka, she’s got too much firepower, she just keeps coming at you, and Sabalenka showing what a champion she is.
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“To win these two tournaments back to back now, that they’re two weeks each. It’s a really, really difficult feat. So, Sabalenka on the big front foot to the rest of the field, she’s done something that is done very rarely, and there’s a reason for that: I’m number one”
“Yeah, I mean, probably looking back on this one as where she really stamped her signature on the season, but well done to both players. It was a good match. It was well-played, high-quality tennis. Some drama; the crowd didn’t get who they wanted to win, but Sabalenka the rightful winner.”
Sabalenka rated the Miami Open crowd after the final, after receiving a warning from the umpire after firing an audible obscenity at one fan mid-match.
Martina Navratilova consoles Coco Gauff
Navratilova was sympathetic to Coco Gauff, and during the same broadcast, was keen to offer her some words of encouragement.
She added: “Coco had to fight her way to get here, played four three-setters in a row until she won an easy one in the semis.
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“And today she just ran into a better player in Sabalenka. She held her nerve beautifully when there were some close times. Gauff took advantage of that one break, because she only had two break points the whole match.
“Sabalenka just serving so well, backing it up and attacking. Coco has nothing to hang her head about. I think this is the best she’s played and still lost a match because Sabalenka just had a little bit more on her shots.”
Gauff had positive words for Sabalenka after the final too, offering a mature reaction after losing such a crucial match in front of her home support.
