World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka Makes History with Maiden Miami Open Title, Climbing the All-Time WTA Rankings

A triumph in Miami has seen Aryna Sabalenka join an exclusive group of players who have crossed the 10,000 points threshold in the WTA rankings.

Entering the Miami Open final against American Jessica Pegula, Sabalenka, boasting 18 career titles, had been on the hunt for her first Miami Open title until her win on Sunday (AEDT).

The world No. 1 from Belarus defeated fourth-seeded Pegula with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-2, marking her inaugural Miami Open title and a rematch of their 2024 US Open final encounter.

Sabalenka unleashed her powerful forehand, delivering 24 winners with that shot alone, clinching the $1.75 million AUD top prize.

Since the introduction of the current WTA ranking system in 2009, just eight players have been able to gather over 10,000 points in the official standings.

Grand slam victories yield 2,000 points for the champion and 1,300 for the runner-up, whereas WTA titles provide 1,000 points to the winner and 650 to the second place finisher.

Following her recent dominance and the Miami title, Sabalenka now ranks fifth all-time in points, amassing 10,541.

The record for the most points belongs to Serena Williams, who achieved a remarkable 13,615 points in 2013.

In second place is Iga Swiatek with 11,695 points, trailed by Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova. Dinara Safina, Caroline Wozniacki, and Ash Barty are also among those who have reached this milestone.

After hitting a backhand passing shot on match point, Sabalenka raised both arms in celebration, gazed upwards, and blew a kiss.

“Thank goodness the rain stopped,” she remarked during the trophy presentation.

“It felt like Miami was shedding tears because I won this tournament.”

A three-time Grand Slam winner, Sabalenka had previously succeeded over Pegula in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5, in the 2025 US Open final, but her luck in finals had taken a downturn this year.

The 26-year-old powerhouse has reached the finals of four out of six events in 2025, securing only one title prior to Miami in Brisbane.

She narrowly missed out on titles at the Australian Open and Indian Wells, which were held before Miami.

“At last, I could play my best tennis in the finals,” Sabalenka expressed.

“Holding this exquisite trophy makes me incredibly happy. I feel at home here, even though I travel constantly.”

Following her win, Sabalenka will enjoy the next two weeks in Miami before gearing up for the clay season.

“My team is absolutely worn out, so today we’ll be taking it easy. However, tomorrow I’m going to insist we celebrate with drinks, burgers, and pizza,” added Sabalenka.

“We need to celebrate because we’ve persevered through tough finals and felt quite low. This victory is a moment to cherish.”

During the presentation, Pegula acknowledged Sabalenka, stating, “You are the best player in the world for a reason. You inspire everyone to improve. The level of tennis you’ve displayed is incredible.”

Although Sabalenka has recently settled in South Florida, Pegula, hailing from Buffalo, had the home crowd rooting for her.

Pegula has resided in Boca Raton since the age of 13 and is the daughter of Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.

Throughout the first set, neither player managed to serve effectively. Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve four times, ultimately securing it 7-5 by winning the last eight points.

With the score tied at 5-5, Sabalenka held her serve without dropping a point to lead 6-5, then broke Pegula’s serve at love, hitting three consecutive winners—two of which were at the net.

“She was able to hit the lines when it mattered and served well during crucial moments,” Pegula commented.

Sabalenka has now won seven of her nine encounters against Pegula, including their last three finals. Pegula expressed frustration over her consistent defeats.

“It feels like Aryna has been virtually unbeatable on hard courts for the past year,” Pegula said.

“I embrace the challenge, but I am growing weary of facing her.”

She added with a smile, “I’m not sure I would have won against someone else. But it’s frustrating, as that’s three titles.”