Aryna Sabalenka gets ‘angry’ with Coco Gauff in spicy Miami Open final | Tennis | Sport

We’re only a few games into the Miami Open women’s singles final, but it’s already getting spicy. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is attempting to pull off the Sunshine Double – winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back. But home favourite Coco Gauff is standing in her way. The Florida native is through to a maiden Miami Open final and has plenty of support inside the Hard Rock Stadium for the championship match.

It’s not just the spectators on her side. Gauff’s friends and family have been coming out to cheer her on. And Sabalenka appeared to get “angry” with one of Gauff’s siblings, who gave her loud encouragement throughout the first five games.

The No. 4 seed came through a tight service game, saving three break points to get to 2-3 in the first set, still down a single break. As they headed to their benches for the changeover, courtside reporter and former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli told Sky Sports that Sabalenka gave her opponent a frustrated look.

“Very interesting first five games, and very interesting to hear the box of Coco Gauff speaking to her after every point,” Bartoli told viewers. “Aryna Sabalenka still up a break. It’s very tight in this match, and we had some of an angry look from Aryna Sabalenka towards Coco Gauff because she thought that one of Coco’s brothers was a bit too loud, so it’s getting a bit spicy in here!”

Gauff might have been able to survive one difficult service game, but she eventually succumbed to the relentless Belarusian, who broke her again to serve for the set. The No. 1 seed channelled any frustrations into the court and swiftly closed out the set 6-2 in less than 40 minutes.

It was a difficult set for the Florida local, who hit three double faults, including in the opening game when she was broken. But Gauff’s team continued to offer plenty of encouragement from her corner.

“It’s not easy because we are very close to her player’s box and there is not really any tactical advice from her player’s box, it’s just really encouragement, but she feels a bit lost, to be honest with you, on the court,” Bartoli said after the American went a set down.

“She just said before the return on the backhands that she missed, that she was not even aiming for the return of serve, so I think she’s feeling the pace from Aryna Sabalenka, that disturbs her a lot.”

But Gauff stepped it up in set two. The 22-year-old roared as she held serve to get on the board again, ending Sabalenka’s run of three games. Then, she started to apply pressure to the world No. 1’s serve and earned her first break point of the match. The No. 4 seed couldn’t make the most of it, however. She found the return on a second serve but sent the ball into the net during the rally, and Sabalenka held on.

The second set was a lot closer, and Gauff had to save a couple of break points. Then, with Sabalenka serving to stay in the set, the American had another opportunity to break. This time, she attacked the second serve, and Sabalenka couldn’t get the return back in play. Gauff roared and pumped her fist as she took the 54-minute set 6-4 to force a decider. But the top seed came out on top, breaking to start the decider and then breaking again in the final game to win 6-2 4-6 6-3. She becomes only the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double.

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