Coco Gauff fell short in the Miami Open final, but still put up a strong showing against Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka took the title after three sets, and in doing so, became just the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double.

After a strong opening set from Sabalenka, it looked like she was on track for a straightforward win. But Gauff found her form and pushed the match into a decider. In that final set, Sabalenka took control again to finish the job.

With her victory, Sabalenka now stands alongside Iga Swiatek, Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters and Steffi Graf as players who have won both Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back in a single season.

While Gauff didn’t come away with the trophy, former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli believes there were still plenty of positives to take from how she performed.

Marion Bartoli Weighs In On Gauff’s Miami Open Final

Speaking on Sky Sports, Bartoli praised Gauff’s efforts: “She came up a little short, but the way she was able to find a way in the second set to steal a set was incredible.”

“It was total dominance in the first set from Aryna, winning so much. It showed incredible mentality and heart, and that is why she has already won two Grand Slams.

“Because she is a tough competitor, with her heart, with her fight, with her backhand.

“I loved the fact today she was using her slice serve a lot. That should be a pattern she is going to use on clay as well.

“She is the Roland Garros defending champion, but she can build momentum to include this, and the way she was able to hold on to that serve and forehand today was a positive she can take.”

Breaking down Coco Gauff’s start to the 2026 season

Gauff’s run to the final in Miami was the highlight of what had been a mixed start to her year.

She began the season with a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open, but then suffered an early exit in Qatar.

There was a good semi-final showing in Dubai, but that was followed by another early loss at Indian Wells, where she fell in the third round.

Despite dropping sets along the way, she reached the semi-finals and then defeated Karolina Muchova in straight sets. But Sabalenka proved too strong for her in the final. It still represented an improvement from earlier results.

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