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Tribune News Service

Associated Press

Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff in the Miami Open women’s singles final on Saturday, winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to become the first player to accomplish the “Sunshine Double” since Iga Swiatek in 2022.
The world No 1 overpowered fourth-ranked Gauff in the first and third sets with sizzling groundstroke winners and followed up her win at Indian Wells with also taking Miami in the same season.
Sabalenka took home the US$1.15 million winner’s cheque and became the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double, joining Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Swiatek.
She improved to 23-1 this season, with her only loss at the Australian Open.
On the men’s side, world No 2 Jannik Sinner will try to emulate Sabalenka’s feat when he faces Jiri Lehecka of Czechia on Sunday, Miami time. He would be the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to achieve the double.

The Miami win was Sabalenka’s second straight title at the Miami Open, Gauff’s hometown tournament, and put her ahead of Gauff in their head-to-head record, 7-6.
“You’ve pushed me to be a better player,” Sabalenka said during the ceremony, before adding about the crowd: “You always bring a full stadium.”
The match lasted two hours, 11 minutes and ended on Gauff getting broken for the fourth time with a wide backhand.
Gauff fought back to force the third set, but could not maintain the momentum she appeared to get from the deafening crowd supporting her.
“It sucks not to come out with a better result but I had a lot of joy this week,” Gauff said to the crowd. “You guys brought energy every day this week.”
Sabalenka at times was frustrated by the fan noise, including when someone yelled “out’’ during a long rally. She used a curse word at the fan and the chair umpire warned the crowd, but also gave a code violation to Sabalenka.
“I shouldn’t be that rude, but come on, you cannot do that,” Sabalenka said at the ceremony. “So let’s agree we were both wrong, so sorry.”
Gauff’s off-and-on serve created seven double faults while Sabalenka registered none.
Sabalenka broke Gauff in the first game of the third set, helped by a Gauff double fault and an unforced error. On break point, Sabalenka crunched a backhand winner.
“I was disappointed about that first game of the third set up 30-0 with momentum,” Gauff said. “It was an important game to win in that moment.”
Sabalenka, who earned her 24th professional title, said before the match she was happy Gauff had found her best tennis in her home tournament at which she had never got past the fourth round.
The victory capped an unforgettable month for Sabalenka, the Belarusian Miami resident, who got engaged to Brazilian entrepreneur Georgios Frangulis and got a new puppy named Ash, a brown-and-white Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named after tennis legend Arthur Ashe.

After the match, sitting on her courtside chair awaiting the trophy presentation, Gauff teared up and was overcome with gratitude and joy as she reflected on her deep run in a tournament that meant so much more to her than the trophy and US$612,340 runner-up cheque.
Playing so close to home not only meant being near family and lifelong friends, sleeping in her own bed and saving money on hotel and flights, it also meant unwavering support from Hard Rock Stadium staff that she does not get anywhere else.
She added that she was recently inspired by Olympic gold medallist figure skater Alysa Liu, whose joy and free spirit on the ice made her a fan favourite.
“Even now, when I was walking over here [to the press conference], the staff was being so kind to me and saying ‘We’re proud of you’. It made me think, ‘How can I not be proud of this experience when hundreds of people are telling me this?’. So, I’m grateful for this tournament.”


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WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka seals ‘Sunshine Double’ with win over local favourite Coco Gauff

Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff in the final of the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. Photo: EPA

Aryna Sabalenka improved her head-to-head record against Coco Gauff to 7-6. Photo: TNS

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates with fiancé, Georgios Frangulis, and her dog Ash. Photo: AFP

Chinese snowboarding star Su Yiming claims second Crystal Globe trophy of the season

Snowboarder Su Yiming secured his second Crystal Globe trophy of the season on Saturday. Photo: FIS

Su Yiming won gold at the FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup 2026 at Secret Garden, Zhangjiakou, China. Photo: Xinhua

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Wu Liufang now has more than 800,000 followers on her social media account, and appears in traditional Hanfu costumes and promotes cultural dance. Photo: Weibo/Wu Liufang

Wu Liufang gained prominence in 2024 after posting dance clips wearing short shorts, miniskirts and stockings, as well as one with a Team China tracksuit. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Douyin

Wu Liufang won a World Cup title in 2010 in Ghent, Belgium. Photo: Getty Images

Wu Liufang won World Cup titles on the balance beam and asymmetric bars. Photo: Douyin/Wu Liufang

Sport

Tennis

Belarusian world No 1 overpowers fourth-ranked American to improve record to 23-1 this season, her only loss being the Australian Open final


Belarusian world No 1 overpowers fourth-ranked American to improve record to 23-1 this season, her only loss being the Australian Open final.


Aryna Sabalenka

Coco Gauff

Jannik Sinner

Iga Swiatek

Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka seals ‘Sunshine Double’ with win over local favourite Coco Gauff

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Belarusian world No 1 overpowers fourth-ranked American to improve record to 23-1 this season, her only loss being the Australian Open final

Belarusian world No 1 overpowers fourth-ranked American to improve record to 23-1 this season, her only loss being the Australian Open final