On a balmy evening in Miami, Aryna Sabalenka stood atop the tennis world once more, her racquet gleaming under the Hard Rock Stadium lights as she claimed the 2025 Miami Open title with a commanding 7-5, 6-2 victory over Jessica Pegula. The world No. 1 from Belarus didn’t just secure her first-ever Miami crown on March 29; she also etched her name deeper into the sport’s financial annals, pocketing a cool $1.1 million for her efforts. It was a triumph that blended raw power with emotional resonance, a moment where her relentless drive met the roar of a crowd that had witnessed her rise from heartbreak to glory in the span of a single season.
The journey to this payday was no leisurely stroll. Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had been knocking on the door of big titles all year. After tasting defeat in the Australian Open final to Madison Keys and falling to teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva at Indian Wells, the Miami Open loomed as her chance to turn the tide. She seized it with both hands, storming through the draw without dropping a set—a feat that underscored her dominance on the hard courts she calls home as a part-time Miami resident. Her final showdown with Pegula, a familiar foe she’d bested in two previous finals last year, was a test of nerve and precision. “I’m speechless,” she admitted post-match, her voice catching with the weight of the moment. “The last couple of finals were really tough and tight and close ones for me, so going into this one I was so focused on myself.”
That focus paid off—literally. The $1.1 million winner’s check boosted her career earnings to a staggering $33.6 million, vaulting her past German legend Angelique Kerber to ninth on the all-time women’s prize money list. It’s a figure that places her just behind her rival Iga Swiatek and within striking distance of the sport’s financial elite, a testament to a career that’s seen her claim 19 titles, including eight at the WTA 1000 level or higher. For Pegula, the runner-up, the consolation was $597,890—a hefty sum that reflects her own stellar run to her sixth WTA 1000 final, even if it couldn’t erase the sting of a third straight final loss to Sabalenka. “I really, really don’t want to like you right now,” Pegula quipped during the trophy ceremony, her smile masking the frustration of a 2-7 head-to-head record now tilted firmly in Sabalenka’s favor.
The match itself was a rollercoaster of momentum. Sabalenka surged ahead early, breaking Pegula’s serve with a blistering forehand that left the American scrambling. But Pegula, fueled by the energy of a partisan Florida crowd, clawed back, snatching a lead in the first set with her trademark resilience. The pendulum swung again as Sabalenka, her power hitting dialed to eleven, broke through to claim the opener 7-5. The second set was less a contest than a coronation—Sabalenka’s serves thundered down the lines, her groundstrokes painted the corners, and Pegula’s defenses crumbled under the onslaught. “You’re the best player in the world for a reason,” Pegula conceded, her words a nod to Sabalenka’s 23-4 record this season, a tour-leading tally that’s kept her atop the rankings.
Off the court, Sabalenka’s victory carried a personal edge. After the emotional turbulence of losing her former partner Konstantin Koltsov just a year ago, she’d channeled her grief into her game, finding solace in the rhythm of competition. “Thank you my team for everything, you’re not my team, you’re my family,” she told the crowd, her gratitude spilling over as she thanked her boyfriend and fans too. Her celebration plans? “Definitely tequila!” she laughed, promising a private toast to a triumph that felt “super special” as her first in Miami after six prior attempts fell short.
For the tennis world, Sabalenka’s win was more than a paycheck—it was a statement. With $33.6 million in career earnings, she’s not just chasing titles but rewriting the financial landscape of the sport she’s come to dominate. As she lifted the Butch Buchholz trophy, the Miami night seemed to pause, honoring a champion whose journey from Minsk to the top has been as lucrative as it is inspiring. Pegula, meanwhile, heads back to the drawing board, her $597,890 a reminder of how close—and yet how far—she remains from toppling the woman who’s become her nemesis. In Miami, Sabalenka proved once again that when she’s on, the prize is hers for the taking—both in glory and in gold.