Aryna Sabalenka became the first player since Iga Swiatek in 2022 to win the Sunshine Double after beating Coco Gauff at the Miami Open.
The world number one needed three sets to beat Gauff in the Miami Open final to confirm her second consecutive title after winning Indian Wells.
Sabalenka’s win in Miami is her 11th WTA 1000 title, which sees her equal Iga Swiatek’s tally at Masters events.
Following Sabalenka’s 23rd victory of the 2026 season, Tim Henman was full of praise for the Belarusian star.
Tim Henman highlights Aryna Sabalenka’s ‘mental fortitude’
Henman admitted that Sabalenka was not at her best against Gauff, but he was just as impressed that she managed to get over the line.
Speaking on Sky Sports Tennis, Henman said: “It would have been easy for Sabalenka to get frustrated when you think about all the tennis she’s played.
“She’s obviously fatigued mentally and physically, but I think that first couple of games of the third set spoke volumes – the mental capacity, her fortitude to say, okay, I’ve dropped that second set, but I go again.”
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Sabalenka bounced back from the setback to take an early break and win the deciding set by a scoreline of 6-3 and Henman was impressed with the star’s mentality.
He added: “I’ve got one last set here to do the Sunshine Double. She got an early break of serve. The way she went about then just taking care of her own service games was very, very impressive.
“You can feel the confidence on the court just oozing through her veins. This is another amazing achievement.
“And I don’t think she played her best today, but that is the sign of the great champions: when you’re not quite playing your best, but you still get the job done.”
Sabalenka’s only loss this season has come against Elena Rybakina, who beat the star in the final of the Australian Open.
When will Aryna Sabalenka play next?
Sabalenka played the maximum amount of matches at the Sunshine Double, so she will be delighted that she has two weeks off now.
The star’s next slated appearance is set to be at the Women’s Stuttgart Open, which takes place between April 13th and 19th.
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The German tournament is a WTA 500 event, but its stacked line-up will make it feel like a mini-Masters tournament.
Sabalenka will be joined by all of the top five as Gauff, Rybakina, Swiatek, and Jessica Pegula have all signed up for the event.
The world number one is yet to lift the trophy in Stuttgart, although she has lost in the final on four occasions.