This is how Cori Gauff must play in the final of the Miami Open 2026 to thwart Sabalenka's Sunshine Double

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Cori Gauff has a mission as complex as it is exciting in the final of the Miami Open 2026. Beating Aryna Sabalenka at this moment is almost utopian for anyone other than Rybakina, but the American has more than enough tools in her tennis to achieve it and prevent the Sunshine Double by the Belarusian. How should she approach the match to maximize her chances?

A force of nature who has been incorporating more nuances into her game to become an almost impregnable player. This is how you can define Aryna Sabalenka, who exudes a sense of superiority over the vast majority of the circuit. Few powers are more influential in the world of tennis than seeming like everything depends on oneself, and that one's greatest rival is not another player but the doubts that arise internally. This is what the Belarusian has achieved, making her a strong favorite in the final of the Miami Open 2026.

Nevertheless, Sabalenka would be wrong to relax, as she will face one of those chosen few who knows what it takes to win important tournaments and who has the precise playbook to cause her a lot of damage on the court. Cori Gauff comes to the final of the Miami Open 2026 with confidence, having endured in the early rounds and gaining consistency and reliability in all her shots in the latest matches, a level not seen in her for quite some time.

The 5 reasons why Cori Gauff can surprise Sabalenka in the final of the Miami Open 2026

1. Changes in her serve are starting to pay off

The American made a significant bet in the latter part of last year by changing her service mechanics to reduce double faults and gain more power. It has been challenging for her to consistently translate the changes into competition, but in Miami, promising results have been evident. With an automated serve that combines power and spin as she has shown in recent weeks, Gauff can pose a significant threat to Aryna.

2. A forehand that can push Sabalenka out of her comfort zone

Gauff is known for her forehand that imparts great spin to the ball, allowing her to make very effective height changes. This is a key strategy against the Belarusian, who is comfortable in flat and powerful stroke exchanges but may struggle to respond to higher balls, angles, and deep shots with a lot of topspin.

3. Sublime backhand to counter Aryna's attacks

There is no doubt that Coco's best shot is her backhand, a significant advantage when facing Sabalenka since most of the Belarusian's offensives come from that side. Her crosscourt backhand is destabilizing, while she often builds her dominance in backhand exchanges. However, Gauff will not cede ground there and can stand her ground against her opponent.

4. Wind and heat can be determining factors

Temperatures around 28ºC and a wind speed of about 18 km/h are expected. These conditions favor Gauff's game plan, seeking high bounce rates with her forehand shots and pushing Sabalenka, whose tennis requires maximum precision, behind the baseline. Here, the wind can lead to more unforced errors from the world number 1, while Gauff's more stable and error-tolerant game will be less affected.

5. Head-to-head matchups give hope to Gauff

The American knows perfectly well what it takes to beat Sabalenka on big stages. Their head-to-head record is even at 6-6. Gauff won last year in the Roland Garros final, while their latest encounter was at the WTA Finals and favored Sabalenka. They have never faced off in Miami.

What should Cori Gauff's game plan be against Sabalenka in the final of the Miami Open 2026?

Considering everything seen earlier, it is clear that Gauff needs to aim for a high percentage of first serves to avoid immediately losing advantage, giving her serves a significant topspin and varying directions significantly. Playing powerfully to the body should be combined with serves that open up the court and force Sabalenka to move. Once the ball is in play, Gauff should aim for a lot of height and speed variation before taking risks with her backhand.

It is evident that Aryna Sabalenka is the strong favorite. However, she faces a rival who knows how to defeat her and can perfectly exploit the recent doubts arising in the Belarusian when playing in important tournament finals. Cori Gauff will need to deliver a brilliant performance if she wants to claim the title in the Miami Open 2026 and make a significant impact on the current status quo of world tennis.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Así es como Cori Gauff debe jugar en la final del Miami Open 2026 para frustrar el Sunshine Double de Sabalenka