Aryna Sabalenka sinks Jessica Pegula to clinch maiden Miami Open title

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Aryna Sabalenka added another title to her impressive trophy collection after beating Jessica Pegula in straight sets to win the Miami Open.

In a rematch of last year's US Open final, Sabalenka emerged a 7-5 6-2 victor in one hour and 28 minutes, ending the tournament without dropping a set.

The world number one has now won 19 WTA titles across her career, 17 of which have come on hard courts, though she was made to work in the opening set by home hope Pegula.

Sabalenka saw an early lead slip away as Pegula reeled off three straight games to lead 3-2, but the top seed responded to take the lead in the opening set.

Pegula clawed her way back, only for Sabalenka to dominate from then on, claiming the early advantage with back-to-back love games.

Pegula responded with an early break in the second set, but Sabalenka shrugged it off to race into a 4-1 lead.

Though Pegula pulled a game back, Sabalenka duly sealed the victory with a fierce forehand, as she captured her first trophy since winning the Brisbane International back in January.

Data Debrief: Seventh time lucky for Sabalenka

After a defeat in the Indian Wells final to Mirra Andreeva, Sabalenka responded in style to lift her eighth WTA 1000 title. Only Serena Williams (13), Victoria Azarenka (10), Iga Swiatek (10), Simona Halep (nine) and Petra Kvitova (nine) have more to their name.

She is the fourth player this century to win the Miami Open as the world number one, after Martina Hingis (2000), Williams (2003, 2013, 2014, 2015) and Ashleigh Barty (2021).

Sabalenka is also the first player to defeat three top 10 opponents in the quarters, semis and final in straight sets at the tournament since Williams, who defeated Angelique Kerber, Maria Sharapova and Li Na en route to a triumph in 2014.

Since the tournament's inception in 1985, only Kvitova (13 in 2023) won her first Miami Open title after more appearances than Sabalenka (seven).