Aryna Sabalenka said she was fuelled by her recent near misses after downing Jessica Pegula to win the Miami Open on Saturday.

The world number one lost in the finals at the Australian Open and Indian Wells this season but outclassed American Pegula 7-5 6-2 to get back on the trophy trail.

It represents the Belarusian's first victory in the March's Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami), while only Serena Williams (13), Victoria Azarenka (10), Iga Swiatek (10), Simona Halep (nine) and Petra Kvitova (nine) have more WTA 1000 victories to their name than Sabalenka (eight).

In quotes reported by the WTA Tour's official website, Sabalenka said: "Finally I was able to play my best tennis in the final, and I'm just super happy with the result and with the performance.

Miami heat, Sabalenka fire @SabalenkaA | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/wDq6Fs1MbK

— wta (@WTA) March 30, 2025

"Going into this match, I had the mentality that no matter what happens, if she's going to break me, I had the mentality to stay there, to focus on myself, to fight for every point no matter what.

"I didn't want to lose another final, to be honest. It's really tough to lose in the final. So if someone would say that, I'd be, like, 'okay, it's going to be a battle, I'm ready for that.'"

Sabalenka's victory saw her become the fourth player this century to win the Miami Open as the world number one, after Martina Hingis (2000), Williams (2003, 2013, 2014, 2015) and Ashleigh Barty (2021).

Moreover, she became the first player to beat three top-10 opponents in the quarters, semis, and final in straight sets in Miami since Williams, who toppled Angelique Kerber, Maria Sharapova and Li Na when lifting the trophy in 2014.