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Sabalenka Triumphs at Miami Open, Secures Second Title of the Year
World number one Aryna Sabalenka achieved a significant milestone by capturing her second title of the year, triumphing over Jessica Pegula in the final of the Miami Open with a score of 7-5, 6-2.
The match commenced with a fiercely contested first set, showcasing the competitive spirit of both players, resulting in a total of seven breaks of serve. Ultimately, it was Sabalenka who took advantage, sealing a crucial game on Pegula’s serve.
Throughout the match, Sabalenka’s formidable power allowed her to navigate through challenging moments, while Pegula struggled to maintain her serve and effectively counter the intensity of Sabalenka’s game, which ultimately led to her defeat.
As the second set progressed, Pegula’s frustration became evident as Sabalenka seized control. The Belarusian broke Pegula’s serve while leading 5-2, clinching the championship without losing a single set during the entire tournament. Sabalenka showcased her offensive prowess by hitting an impressive 31 winners, compared to Pegula’s 12.
Prior to this victory in Miami, Sabalenka had won the Brisbane International in January but entered the final with mixed emotions after losing her last two finals, facing defeats against Madison Keys at the Australian Open and Mirra Andreeva at Indian Wells just weeks earlier.
Expressing her emotions after the match, Sabalenka stated, “I’m speechless. The last couple of finals were really tough and tight for me, so going into this one, I focused intensely on my performance.” She added, “It feels super special and I’m very happy to take the title in Miami.” Reflecting on the match, she remarked, “It was back and forth the whole time. I fought no matter what, and even after every game she broke, I kept fighting back.”
Men’s Doubles Final
In a separate event, British pair Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool faced challenges in the men’s doubles final, ultimately losing to top seeds Marcelo Arevalo-Gonzalez and Mate Pavic with a final score of 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.
Source
www.bbc.com