Central Plains FFA Chapter

03/28 05:00 CDT Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff meet for the Miami Open title Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff meet for the Miami Open title By MARC BERMAN Associated Press MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) --- Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are back on a big stage in the final of the Miami Open as their growing rivalry heats up. Gauff, the South Floridian who beat Sabalenka in the 2023 U.S. Open and 2025 French Open finals, will meet the top-seeded Belarusian at Hard Rock Stadium at 3 p.m. EDT. This WTA 1000 final will mark their 13th meeting, with the series knotted at 6-6. They faced off three times in finals in 2025. Sabalenka won the last meeting in the group stage of the WTA Finals in November. "We've played so many matches, and it's physical when I play her every time," Gauff said. "She's playing great tennis. She's definitely world No. 1 for a reason and it's going to be a great challenge." Gauff is making her first Miami Open final appearance. The Delray Beach, Florida product had never made it past the fourth round in her hometown tournament. "She's a fighter,'' Sabalenka said. "She's a great player. We played a lot of tight matches, a lot of big finals. She is an incredible player. I'm really excited to face her in the final. I think it's going to be a great battle. I cannot wait to play that." Sabalenka is attempting to win the "Sunshine Double" --- the back-to-back March hard-court tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. Sabalenka won in California on March 15 with a three-set victory over Elena Rybakina. Gauff had to retire during her third-round match against Alexandra Eala in Indian Wells because of a nerve injury in her left forearm. Gauff said her team wanted to skip the Miami Open but she insisted. "With Coco, you know that you have to play an extra ball, and the ball always comes back, sometimes not perfect, but it's always back on your side," Sabalenka said. "She pushes you into the long rallies and I think that's what makes her difficult." Sabalenka's new residence is Miami and she has a strong Brazilian following because of her Brazilian fiance, Georgios Frangules. "I'm super curious how the stadium is going to be on Saturday,'' Sabalenka said. "It couldn't be a better final. I feel happy for her that she's finding her tennis back." ___ AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis