Aryna Sabalenka had a tense moment during her Miami Open victory speech as she called out a spectator who seemingly heckled her during her title clash against Coco Gauff. The World No. 1 sent a clear message about the mid-game disturbance while also apologizing for her reaction.
Aryna Sabalenka Called Out a Fan After Winning the Miami Open
On Saturday, March 28, Sabalenka, the defending champion, beat home favorite Gauff in a closely contested final, with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 score. The crowd was naturally favoring Gauff and made every effort to support the Florida resident.
While the spectators were loud throughout the contest, they were especially rowdy in the final two sets of the match. A few excited fans were heard screaming during points and making ‘out’ calls, hindering both players. At one point, the chair umpire was forced to issue a strict warning to the crowd, asking them to maintain silence during points.
“We have a computer doing that (making out calls); we don’t need you,” he was heard saying to one fan in particular, who elicited a reaction from Sabalenka.
During her champion’s speech, Aryna Sabalenka called out the person in question. While she apologized for reacting, she condemned the fan’s behavior. “I don’t know where you are — that lady that yelled, ‘Hope for the out.’ I shouldn’t have been that rude, but come on, you cannot do that. So let’s agree that we both were wrong, so sorry,” she said.
Aryna Sabalenka after beating Coco Gauff in the Miami final:
“I don’t know where you are, that lady that hoped for the ‘out.’ I shouldn’t have been that rude. But come on, you cannot do that. Let’s agree that we both were wrong. Sorry” 😭😭😭😭
“I wanna say thank you to my… pic.twitter.com/ijd0rPiBmT
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 28, 2026
This is not the first time that the Belarusian player has clashed with the American crowd. She smiled through her tears after enduring a hostile environment during her 2023 US Open final against Gauff.
Despite the Miami crowd largely supporting the 22-year-old, the World No. 1 was appreciative of their energy. “And thank you guys for an incredible atmosphere. You always bring incredible vibes and a full stadium throughout the final. Thank you guys so much.”
MORE: Coco Gauff Emotional As Miami Open Run Ends With Tribute to God and Supportive Family
Sabalenka staged a dominant campaign at the WTA 1000 event, not losing a single set before the final. En route, she beat Ann Li, Caty McNally, Zheng Qinwen, Hailey Baptiste, and Elena Rybakina.
With her win against Gauff, the 27-year-old successfully completed the Sunshine Double – winning in Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back. She joined an exclusive list of just four other women who have achieved the feat – Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Świątek. This was Sabalenka’s 11th WTA 1000 trophy and her 24th title overall.
