“Sabalenka has immense power; she constantly puts you under pressure and proves her mettle as an unparalleled champion,” commented Martina Navratilova in her commentary about Sabalenka winning both tournaments in two consecutive weeks each, each lasting two weeks each time.
Only a handful of women—Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Swiatek—have managed to win both Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the same year. Now, after four weeks of intense competition, Sabalenka has joined this elite group, dropping only two sets throughout the tournaments, both in the finals.
The difficulty of accomplishing the ‘Sunshine Double’ lies not just in playing well continuously for four weeks, but also in maintaining physical stamina, mental strength, and peak performance through every match. Sabalenka overcame these challenges by losing only one set during the Miami Open and recovering from a second-set setback in the final against Coco Gauff to claim the title in three sets.
Navratilova did more than acknowledge Sabalenka’s achievement; she placed her in a league above the rest of the competition.
“Sabalenka has therefore pulled ahead of the rest of the field; she has accomplished something very rare, and there’s a reason for that: she’s world number one. This match will probably be remembered as the one where she truly made her mark on the season, but congratulations to both players,” Navratilova added.
The difference Navratilova pointed out goes beyond ranking points; it highlights the consistently high level of performance that Sabalenka has shown since the Australian Open in January. In the four tournaments played this year, Sabalenka has reached the final each time and claimed three titles.
Even in the Miami final itself—a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win over Gauff—Sabalenka did not play her absolute best. She displayed moments of frustration, lost a set after a dominant start, and had to draw deep on her mental reserves to close out the match.
With Stuttgart next on her schedule, the four-time Grand Slam champion arrives there in form unmatched by any other female player, sending a clear message to her competitors.
Martina Navratilova Commends Coco Gauff’s Effort After Tough Final
Coco Gauff’s determination in pushing Sabalenka into a third set did not go unnoticed by Navratilova.
“Coco had to fight her way to get here, playing four three-set matches in a row before an easier semi-final win. Today, she simply ran into a superior player in Sabalenka,” Navratilova stated.
The path to the final was incredibly demanding for Gauff, with consecutive three-set battles taking a toll on both her body and mind before the championship match. Her ability to bounce back in the second set by breaking Sabalenka’s serve and extending the match speaks volumes about her competitive spirit.
“She held her nerve beautifully during critical moments. Gauff capitalized on her one break point chance, and she only had two break points the entire match,” Navratilova noted.
Statistics reinforced Sabalenka’s dominance on serve, as Gauff had just two opportunities to break and converted only one at a crucial moment in the second set. Navratilova described Sabalenka’s serving and attacking as relentless, emphasizing that despite the loss, Gauff had no reason to be disappointed.
“Sabalenka served exceptionally well, maintained her level and attacked relentlessly while Coco played her best tennis but still lost due to Sabalenka’s more acute shots,” commented Navratilova in her conclusion.
Gauff was pleased with her performance in her inaugural final of 2016, and looks forward to further success moving forward. Furthermore, Sabalenka remains eagerly anticipated as future victories.