Aryna Sabalenka beats Jessica
Pegula in Miami Open final for 19th tour title
[March 31, 2025]
By MARC BERMAN
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka entered the Miami Open
final against Jessica Pegula with 18 career titles on her elite
resume.
The Miami Open crown had proved elusive until Saturday.
The No. 1 seed from Belarus knocked off fourth-seeded American
Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 for her first Miami Open title in a rematch
of the 2024 U.S. Open final.
Sabalenka fired up her lethal forehand in posting 24 winners on that
wing to win the $1.1 million first prize. Sabalenka hit a backhand
passing shot on match point after which she raised both hands to the
air, looked up to the sky and blew a kiss.
“Thank God the rain stopped,” Sabalenka said during the trophy
ceremony. “It was like Miami was crying that I won this
tournament.’’
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had won the U.S. Open
over Pegula, also in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5, but in 2025,
Sabalenka’s finals luck had run out.
The 26-year-old power player has reached the finals of four of six
events this year, though only copped one title, in Brisbane, before
adding Miami. Sabalenka lost in the finals of the Australian Open
and at Indian Wells — the event that preceded Miami.
Sabalenka, who now lives in Miami, brought the hand-blown crystal
trophy to the interview room. “Finally I was able to play my best
tennis in the finals,’’ Sabalenka said. “I’m super happy to hold
this beautiful trophy. I feel like home here, even though I’m
traveling every week, it still feels like home.’’
Sabalenka said she will spend the next two weeks in Miami, relaxing
before the clay season.
“My team is so exhausted so today we will chill, but tomorrow I’m
going to force them to have drinks drinks, burgers, pizza (and) have
fun," Sabalenka said. "I think we should celebrate because we
struggled after those tough finals, all kind of depressed. After
this final, we have to celebrate to remember the moment.’’
During the trophy ceremony, Pegula said to Sabalenka: “You’re the
best player in the world for a reason. You keep challenging everyone
to get better. The level of tennis you’ve been able to play is
amazing.’’
While Sabalenka is a recent South Florida resident, Pegula, a
31-year-old Buffalo native, had the crowd support. Pegula has lived
in Boca Raton since she was 13 and is daughter of Terry Pegula,
owner of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance as the league
owners meetings takes place Monday in nearby Palm Beach. Her father
was also on hand.
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Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after defeating Jessica Pegula during the
women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament,
Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta
Lavandier)
“It’s still cool to see this transform from a
Dolphins-Bills game to a tennis stadium,’’ Pegula said.
Pegula said she saw Goodell, whom she had met before, before the
match.
“He was with his daughter and family an hour before the match,’’
Pegula said. “I didn’t know he was coming. I saw him in the
cafeteria. It was kind of funny.’’
Neither player could hold serve well in the first set. Sabalenka
broke Pegula’s serve four times and won it 7-5, winning the last
eight points of the set.
At 5-5, Sabalenka held serve at love for a 6-5 lead, then broke
Pegula at love after hitting three straight winners — two at the
net.
“She was able to hit the lines when she needed to, hit the big serve
with the 1-2 punch when she needed to,’’ Pegula said.
Sabalenka leads the series vs. Pegula 7-2 and has won the last three
meetings – all finals. Pegula sounded tired of losing to her.
“Now it feels like the last year Aryna has, especially on the hard
courts, been kind of unstoppable virtually,’’ Pegula said. “I
definitely like embracing that challenge, although I am getting a
little annoyed with playing her.’’
Pegula smiled, adding “I don’t know if I would have won if I played
someone else. But, man, I mean, it’s three titles.’’
The men’s doubles final, first on the card, was stopped by rain in
the second set with No. 1 seed Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic
leading No. 6 Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 7-6, 3-2. 30-30.
Arevalo and Pavic closed out the championship quickly 7-6, 6-3, but
the rain delay caused the 3 p.m. women’s final to begin more than
one hour tardy.
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