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Aryna Sabalenka called out a shrieking fan for yelling during a point and apologised for telling them to “shut up” after beating Coco Gauff in a thrilling Miami Open final to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’.
The World No 1 beat the American fourth seed Gauff in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, in front of a sold-out crowd of over 16,000 fans at the Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the NFL team the Miami Dolphins.
The victory meant Sabalenka becomes just the fifth woman to win Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back, and the first since Iga Swiatek in 2022. Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Steffi Graf, who won the ‘Sunshine Double’ twice in 1994 and 1996, are the only other players on the WTA to have achieved the feat.
Sabalenka won her third title from four tournaments this season, having only lost the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina (AP)
Sabalenka, who also defended her Miami Open title, overcome a surging Gauff after the 22-year-old forced a deciding set. Gauff was playing in the final of her home tournament in Florida for the first time and had the majority of the bumper crowd backing her, in what was likely to have been one of the loudest finals ever played on the WTA Tour.
The Australian umpire, Tom Sweeney, had his work cut out to keep the crowd under control. One fan in particular drew an irate response from Sabalenka at a tense moment during the third set after yelling ‘out’ on a ball that landed well inside the baseline.
“We don’t need you to make calls, we have computers to do that,” umpire Sweeney quipped. Sabalenka also laughed off a warning from Sweeney for an “audible obscenity”, and the World No 1 apologised to the fan during the post-final trophy ceremony.
“I don’t know where you are, that lady that yelled, that hoped for the out, I shouldn’t have been that rude,” Sabalenka said. “But come on, you cannot do that. Let’s agree that we both were wrong, so sorry.”
Sabalenka’s victory underlined her status as the most dominant player in the world and continued her impressive response to losing the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina in January.
Having opted to miss the entire Middle East swing, Sabalenka arrived at Indian Wells having announced her engagement to Brazilian businessman Georgios Franguli and unveiling her new puppy, Ash, before saving match point to beat Rybakina in the final.
Sabalenka’s victory over Gauff was played in front of a crowd of over 16,000 at the Hard Rock Stadium (AP)
Sabalenka did not drop a set in returning to the Miami Open final, beating Rybakina 6-4 6-3 in the semis, and took down an opponent in Gauff who had caused her difficulties in the past – notably in last season’s Roland Garros final.
Completing the ‘Sunshine Double’ further cements the four-time grand slam champion’s position at the top of her sport and she told Sky Sports: “I didn’t have a moment to stop and like really look back and realise what just happened in the last month, but oh my God, I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done.”
Although defeat in the final was tough for Gauff, the tournament was also a success for the American after she was forced to retire from Indian Wells earlier this month due to a left arm injury.
Gauff’s team had pleaded with her to withdraw from Miami before the start of the tournament, but Gauff, who will become the World No 3 ahead of Swiatek on Monday, instead found some form to take into the clay-court season , as well as her French Open title defence.
“With the conversations we were having earlier, this wasn’t the result we were expecting,” Gauff said. “I know it sucks to not take home the trophy but I had a lot of joy this week and this is what I’m going to take from this the most.”
There was no lingering tension from last year’s Roland Garros final, with Sabalenka starting her victory speech by saying: “Coco you’re so good at speeches and I don’t know what else to say. You’re a fighter and you also push me so hard to be a better player. You’re incredible and I really like our rivalry. I’m happy to see you back in the finals. I really hope to play many more. Congrats to you and your team on an incredible job.”