“I had a lot of joy this week”: Coco Gauff finds positives despite loss to Sabalenka in Miami Open final

Coco Gauff wanted to focus on the positive aspects of her past weeks at the Miami Open, after falling in the final against Aryna Sabalenka by 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. The World No. 4, playing in her first Miami final, was unable to overcome the top-ranked Belarusian, who completed the Sunshine Double with the victory.

The result marked a near-miss for Gauff on home soil, where she had advanced through the draw with increasing consistency. The American defeated rivals such as Sorana Cirstea, Belinda Bencic and Karolina Muchova to reach the sixth WTA 1000 final of her career – and her first in Miami.

Sabalenka’s win reinforced her dominance at the top of the women’s game, but Gauff’s response offered insight into a different narrative — one shaped by resilience and recalibration. The 22-year-old acknowledged the gap on the day while maintaining a longer-term outlook on her development and trajectory within the WTA Tour.

Gauff will rise to World No. 3 and will arrive with confidence to the clay swing, where she has an important points defence – after reaching finals at the WTA 1000 Madrid Open and Rome Open – in addition to being the defending champion at Roland Garros.

Gauff entered the final as the home favourite, backed by a strong South Florida crowd inside Hard Rock Stadium. She responded after a one-sided opening set, recovering to take the second and extend the contest, becoming only the second player in 2026 to push Sabalenka to a deciding set.

While the third set ultimately tilted in Sabalenka’s favour, Gauff emphasised the broader value of her week, referencing both the internal progress and the experience of competing in a first Miami final. “I had a lot of joy this week, and that’s something that I’m taking away from this the most,” she said during the trophy ceremony.

The American also alluded to the emotional context surrounding her performance, acknowledging that recent weeks had tested her consistency and mindset on tour. “I think it’s been a tough couple of weeks for me, but always pulling me through, and I’m grateful to be here in the finals.”

The American credited Sabalenka’s level as a key factor in her own development, framing their matches as part of a broader process of improvement against the tour’s leading players. The final in Miami added another chapter to that evolving matchup. “I think you pushed me to be a better player… you’re a great fighter, and hopefully we can play many more.”

They arrived at the clash with a head-to-head of 6-6, although Gauff held the edge in finals (2-1). However, this time Sabalenka emerged as the winner, taking the lead in the head-to-head and levelling when it comes to finals. For Gauff, it was also her first defeat in a hard-court final, after having won the title in all nine previous hard-court finals she had played.

A significant element of Gauff’s run was the support she received from the local crowd, with fans travelling from across Florida to attend the final. The 21-year-old acknowledged that connection, describing the environment as a motivating factor throughout the tournament.

Gauff pointed to long-term goals while recognising the significance of reaching this stage of the event. “I promise one day we’ll get the big one, and get to go out in Miami and celebrate,” said the two-time Grand Slam champion. It is the second consecutive year that Sabalenka has claimed the title, again defeating a local player, after doing so in 2025 against Jessica Pegula in straight sets.

Gauff also highlighted the role of her team and family in maintaining perspective across the week, noting that expectations had not necessarily aligned with the final outcome, but that the process remained valuable. “I don’t think… this was the result we were expecting, so although it sucks not to come out with the bigger trophy today…”