Sabalenka begins quest for second straight Miami crown

MINSK, 20 March (BelTA) – Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka will play her opening match at the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami, USA, boasting a prize pool of $9.4 million, BelTA has learned.

In the second-round match, the reigning Miami Open champion and world No. 1 will face Ann Li of the USA (world No. 39). In the round of 128, the American defeated Australia’s Kimberly Birrell (world No. 70) in a three-set match, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

Another Belarusian, Aliaksandra Sasnovich (No. 116), made it into the main draw through qualifying but lost in the first round to Spain’s Paula Badosa (No. 100), 5-7, 3-6.

The winner of the 2026 Miami Open will be determined on 29 March. The champion will earn more than $1.1 million and 1,000 ranking points. In 2025, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula of the USA in the final, 7-5, 6-2. Belarusian Victoria Azarenka has won this tournament three times: in 2009, 2011, and 2016.