Aryna Sabalenka beats Jessica Pegula in Miami Open final for 19th tour title

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka entered the Miami Open final against Jessica Pegula with 18 career titles on her elite resume.

The Miami Open crown had proved elusive until Saturday.

The No. 1 seed from Belarus knocked off fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 for her first Miami Open title in a rematch of the 2024 U.S. Open final.

Sabalenka fired up her lethal forehand in posting 24 winners on that wing to win the $1.1 million first prize. Sabalenka hit a backhand passing shot on match point after which she raised both hands to the air, looked up to the sky and blew a kiss.

“Thank God the rain stopped,” Sabalenka said during the trophy ceremony. “It was like Miami was crying that I won this tournament.’’

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had won the U.S. Open over Pegula, also in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5, but in 2025, Sabalenka’s finals luck had run out.

The 26-year-old power player has reached the finals of four of six events this year, though only copped one title, in Brisbane, before adding Miami. Sabalenka lost in the finals of the Australian Open and at Indian Wells — the event that preceded Miami.

Sabalenka, who now lives in Miami, brought the hand-blown crystal trophy to the interview room. “Finally I was able to play my best tennis in the finals,’’ Sabalenka said. “I’m super happy to hold this beautiful trophy. I feel like home here, even though I’m traveling every week, it still feels like home.’’

Sabalenka said she will spend the next two weeks in Miami, relaxing before the clay season.

“My team is so exhausted so today we will chill, but tomorrow I’m going to force them to have drinks drinks, burgers, pizza (and) have fun," Sabalenka said. "I think we should celebrate because we struggled after those tough finals, all kind of depressed. After this final, we have to celebrate to remember the moment.’’

During the trophy ceremony, Pegula said to Sabalenka: “You’re the best player in the world for a reason. You keep challenging everyone to get better. The level of tennis you’ve been able to play is amazing.’’

While Sabalenka is a recent South Florida resident, Pegula, a 31-year-old Buffalo native, had the crowd support. Pegula has lived in Boca Raton since she was 13 and is daughter of Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance as the league owners meetings takes place Monday in nearby Palm Beach. Her father was also on hand.

“It’s still cool to see this transform from a Dolphins-Bills game to a tennis stadium,’’ Pegula said.

Pegula said she saw Goodell, whom she had met before, before the match.

“He was with his daughter and family an hour before the match,’’ Pegula said. “I didn’t know he was coming. I saw him in the cafeteria. It was kind of funny.’’

Neither player could hold serve well in the first set. Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve four times and won it 7-5, winning the last eight points of the set.

At 5-5, Sabalenka held serve at love for a 6-5 lead, then broke Pegula at love after hitting three straight winners — two at the net.

“She was able to hit the lines when she needed to, hit the big serve with the 1-2 punch when she needed to,’’ Pegula said.

Sabalenka leads the series vs. Pegula 7-2 and has won the last three meetings – all finals. Pegula sounded tired of losing to her.

“Now it feels like the last year Aryna has, especially on the hard courts, been kind of unstoppable virtually,’’ Pegula said. “I definitely like embracing that challenge, although I am getting a little annoyed with playing her.’’

Pegula smiled, adding “I don’t know if I would have won if I played someone else. But, man, I mean, it’s three titles.’’

The men’s doubles final, first on the card, was stopped by rain in the second set with No. 1 seed Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic leading No. 6 Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 7-6, 3-2. 30-30.

Arevalo and Pavic closed out the championship quickly 7-6, 6-3, but the rain delay caused the 3 p.m. women’s final to begin more than one hour tardy.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Aryna Sabalenka hits a return to Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Jessica Pegula hits a return to Aryna Sabalenka during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka serves to Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Jessica Pegula, left, and Aryna Sabalenka hug at the end of the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates a point against Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka hits a return against Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka lifts the Butch Buchholz trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka, right, holds Butch Buchholz winners trophy as Jessica Pegula holds the finalist trophy following the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka takes a selfie after winning the women's singles final match agains Jessica Pegula at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka gestures after missing a point against Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka lifts the Butch Buchholz trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka kisses the Butch Buchholz trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after defeating Jessica Pegula at the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after defeating Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Jessica Pegula hits a return to Aryna Sabalenka during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka hits a return to Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka hits a return to Jessica Pegula during the women's singles final match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

PHOENIX (AP) — Madison Booker has led Texas' offense all season, so it was little surprise that she hit a jumper less than a minute into the game to give the Longhorns an early two-point lead.

It was the last shot she would make for more than three quarters.

The AP All-America forward missed her next 17 attempts from the field as the Longhorns fell to UCLA 51-44 on Friday night in the national semifinals of the women's Final Four.

Booker recovered somewhat in the final minutes as the Longhorns made a frantic push, contributing a pair of baskets to help cut the deficit to 47-44 with less than 30 seconds remaining. The rally ended when Booker was stuffed by UCLA's 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts on a driving layup with 20 seconds remaining.

After the game, Booker was at a loss to explain why she struggled.

“It did surprise me when I couldn’t get out of my funk because every shot I put up it felt like it was going to be money," Booker said. “I wish a few more fell in, not just for me but for my teammates, too.”

Trailing 49-44 in the final seconds, Booker slipped and fell to the ground while trying to make a play, ending a night to forget. She finished 3 of 23 from the field, missing all four of her 3-point attempts, and had six points. She came into the game averaging more than 19 points per game on 52.3% shooting.

UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens played with Booker on Team USA and said she's “an incredible player." She praised her Bruins teammates for doing a good job defensively.

“She can hit those,” Kneepkens said of Booker. “I think we kind of pushed her out a little bit farther and made those very difficult for her.”

It's the second straight year Booker's season has ended with a disappointing game. She had just 11 points and one rebound while fighting foul trouble in a 74-57 loss to South Carolina in last year's national semifinals.

The loss wasn't all Booker's fault as the Longhorns struggled offensively the entire night. Texas shot just 30.8% from the field and only one player — Kyla Oldacre — finished in double figures with 11 points.

“I actually have no idea,” she said about the team's offensive problems. “Lauren Betts — she’s 6-7. I think her length bothered (us) a little.”

Texas was one of the hottest teams in the country coming into the Final Four, riding a 12-game winning streak into Friday’s game. During that stretch, the Longhorns beat fellow Final Four participant South Carolina by 17 points in the SEC Tournament championship and crushed Michigan 77-41 in the Elite Eight.

It's another disappointment for Texas coach Vic Schaefer, who was trying to lead the Longhorns to their second national title and first since 1986. Schaefer has personally coached in four Final Fours — two with Mississippi State and two with Texas — but hasn't been able to take home a championship.

Schaefer said the Longhorns had too many moments where they did things that were out of character.

“Sometimes in this moment things happen," Schaefer said. "We came out of a timeout on two different occasions and people were in the wrong place. I’ll wear the responsibility on that — obviously I didn’t convey it right in the huddle.”

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) reacts after Texas lost to UCLA in a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) and UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) scramble for the ball during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) and Texas guard Ashton Judd (21) celebrate against UCLA during the second half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) and UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) scramble for the ball during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) drives against Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives against UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez (11) during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)