World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will clash with No. 4 Jessica Pegula in the Miami Open final, a significant WTA 1000 tournament. This is the first Miami final featuring two Top 5 players since 2014, and the winner will be the first Top 10 player to secure a WTA 1000 title this season.
After recent final losses, Sabalenka aims for her first WTA 1000 title of the year. Pegula seeks to avenge previous defeats to Sabalenka in Cincinnati and the US Open finals. Here’s a preview of this anticipated match.
Match Details
The women`s singles final is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Points and Prize Money
Both finalists have already earned 650 WTA ranking points and $597,890. The champion will be awarded 1,000 points and $1,124,380.
Sabalenka will remain World No. 1 regardless of the outcome. Pegula could rise to No. 3 with a victory.
Paths to the Final
Sabalenka is the sixth player this century to reach the finals in both Indian Wells and Miami consecutively. She reached this final without dropping a set, defeating players like Viktoriya Tomova, Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Danielle Collins, Zheng Qinwen, and Jasmine Paolini.
Pegula, in contrast, has had longer matches en route to the final. Her victories include matches against Bernarda Pera, Anna Kalinskaya, Marta Kostyuk, Emma Raducanu, and Alexandra Eala.
Sabalenka has spent significantly less time on court in Miami compared to Pegula, potentially giving her a physical advantage.
Head to Head Record
Aryna Sabalenka
Wins: 6 (75%)
Jessica Pegula
Wins: 2 (25%)
Head-to-Head History
Sabalenka holds a 6-2 lead in their head-to-head record, with a 4-2 advantage on hard courts and 2-0 in finals.
Their encounters include Pegula`s early win in 2020, followed by Sabalenka`s dominance on clay. More recently, Sabalenka won both the Cincinnati and US Open finals in 2024.
Milestones at Stake
Sabalenka is aiming for her second title of the year and 19th overall. Pegula seeks her second title of 2025 and eighth overall.
Pegula could achieve her fifth win against a reigning World No. 1 and become the oldest player to defeat the top-ranked player in a final since 1993 if she wins.
Sabalenka aims to secure her second tournament with three Top 10 wins.
Player Perspectives
Pegula: Acknowledges Sabalenka`s strong record and sees this final as a tough challenge but is proud to compete at this level.
Sabalenka: Recognizes their history of tough matches and highlights the mental aspect as potentially key in their encounters.
Pegula: Hopes her improved serve will be a factor and anticipates chances to break Sabalenka`s serve, drawing confidence from her US Open performance.
Sabalenka: Suggests mental toughness might be a differentiating factor in their matches, emphasizing the need to maintain that mental strength.
