World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka accomplished a rare milestone by winning the Sunshine Double after defeating Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final on Saturday. With this WTA 1000 title, the Belarusian has become only the fifth woman in singles to achieve the historic feat, joining legendary players like Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Swiatek.
In addition to female players, seven ATP men have also completed the Sunshine Double at least once in their careers. This list includes Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Marcelo Rios, and Pete Sampras. Like Sabalenka, the men’s World No. 2, Jannik Sinner, has a rare chance to complete the Sunshine Double when he faces Jiri Lehecka in the Miami Open final on Sunday.
Aryna Sabalenka is Proud of Herself Upon Completing the Sunshine Double
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports after winning the Miami Open, Sabalenka voiced her joy upon winning the coveted title and completing her quest for the Sunshine double.
“I haven’t had a moment to stop, look back and realise what’s happened in the past months. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done and the fight I was able to bring on court,” the Belarusian said.
“Coco will fight for every opportunity, and she played incredibly, but I was mentally strong. I knew I was doing everything right, and it was just a matter of a few points,” she added.
After a well-earned break of two weeks, Sabalenka will commence her claycourt swing with the Stuttgart Open, starting April 13.
Also read:
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
