Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff meet for the Miami Open title

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are backmost connected a large signifier successful the last of the Miami Open arsenic their increasing rivalry heats up.

Gauff, the South Floridian who bushed Sabalenka successful the 2023 U.S. Open and 2025 French Open finals, volition conscionable the top-seeded Belarusian astatine Hard Rock Stadium astatine 3 p.m. EDT.

This WTA 1000 last volition people their 13th meeting, with the bid knotted astatine 6-6. They faced disconnected 3 times successful finals successful 2025. Sabalenka won the past gathering successful the radical signifier of the WTA Finals successful November.

“We’ve played truthful galore matches, and it’s carnal erstwhile I play her each time," Gauff said. “She’s playing large tennis. She’s decidedly satellite No. 1 for a crushed and it’s going to beryllium a large challenge."

Gauff is making her archetypal Miami Open last appearance. The Delray Beach, Florida merchandise had ne'er made it past the 4th circular successful her hometown tournament.

“She’s a fighter,’’ Sabalenka said. “She’s a large player. We played a batch of choky matches, a batch of large finals. She is an unthinkable player. I’m truly excited to look her successful the final. I deliberation it’s going to beryllium a large battle. I cannot hold to play that."

Sabalenka is attempting to triumph the “Sunshine Double” — the back-to-back March hard-court tournaments successful Indian Wells and Miami.

Sabalenka won successful California connected March 15 with a three-set triumph implicit Elena Rybakina. Gauff had to discontinue during her third-round lucifer against Alexandra Eala successful Indian Wells due to the fact that of a nervus wounded successful her near forearm. Gauff said her squad wanted to skip the Miami Open but she insisted.

"With Coco, you cognize that you person to play an other ball, and the shot ever comes back, sometimes not perfect, but it’s ever backmost connected your side," Sabalenka said. “She pushes you into the agelong rallies and I deliberation that’s what makes her difficult.”

Sabalenka’s caller residence is Miami and she has a beardown Brazilian pursuing due to the fact that of her Brazilian fiance, Georgios Frangules.

“I’m ace funny however the stadium is going to beryllium connected Saturday,’’ Sabalenka said. “It couldn’t beryllium a amended final. I consciousness blessed for her that she’s uncovering her tennis back."

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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