Aryna Sabalenka edged Ann Li 7-6(5), 6-4 in the Miami Round of 64 on March 21, narrowly escaping with an 81-80 total points advantage. The defending champion needed a first-set tiebreak to survive Li’s aggressive serving before closing out the second set to launch her title defense.
The opening set produced no break point opportunities for either player, forcing a tiebreak that Sabalenka claimed 7-5 despite Li firing six aces to Sabalenka’s five. The world number one seized control in the second set, breaking through to close out 6-4 and avoid what would have been a stunning early upset.
Sabalenka’s superior second-serve effectiveness proved decisive—she won 67% of second-serve points compared to Li’s 54%, a margin that mattered in a match decided by a single total point. The two-time defending champion advances to Round of 32, extending her Miami winning streak to seven matches dating back to last year’s title run.
Key Takeaways
- Sabalenka won by the narrowest possible margin—81 total points to Li’s 80—demonstrating how close this Round of 64 encounter truly was despite the straight-sets scoreline.
- The 13-percentage-point gap in second-serve points won (67% to 54%) was the decisive difference, allowing Sabalenka to hold serve throughout while Li’s second delivery cracked under pressure in Set 2.
- Neither player created a single break point in the entire first set, a remarkable stat that forced the tiebreak where Sabalenka’s 72% first-serve percentage gave her the edge over Li’s 60%.
- Sabalenka hit one more ace above her hard court average of 4.2 per match, while Li’s six aces exceeded her 5.7 average—yet Li’s typically high unforced error rate (40.0 per match average) likely surfaced in the tight moments that decided both sets.
Player Analysis
Aryna Sabalenka
The world number one showed the composure of a champion who has navigated tight matches at this venue before. Her 72% first-serve percentage was well above her recent hard court average of 60%, providing a foundation that allowed her to avoid facing a single break point across 22 games. More importantly, her 67% second-serve points won rate was a clinical display of tactical variety and power even when the first ball missed—this metric alone separated her from Li when the margins were razor-thin.
Arriving in Miami fresh off an Indian Wells title and riding a six-match winning streak, Sabalenka’s form appears championship-caliber despite the tighter-than-expected scoreline. The ability to win 81 of 161 total points—a 50.3% success rate—without breaking serve once speaks to her mental resilience and her capacity to execute in tiebreaks and pressure moments. This is her 24th career appearance at Miami, and the defending champion knows how to navigate these early-round tests.
Ann Li
Li delivered a gutsy performance that pushed the world number one to the brink, firing six aces without a single double fault while winning 67% of first-serve points—actually outperforming Sabalenka in that category. Her aggressive serving kept her competitive through a first set that saw zero break points, and she very nearly forced a deciding set had the tiebreak tilted her direction. The 60% first-serve percentage matched Sabalenka’s recent average, showing Li was not overwhelmed by the occasion.
Where Li faltered was on second serve, winning just 54% of those points compared to Sabalenka’s 67%. That 13-point gap was magnified in the second set, where Sabalenka broke through to claim a 6-4 win. Li’s recent hard court form—just two wins in her last 10 matches entering Miami—suggested she was vulnerable to consistent pressure, and while she exceeded expectations here, the structural weaknesses that have plagued her 2026 season (averaging 40.0 unforced errors per match) likely resurfaced in critical moments. Still, this was a creditable effort against a player riding a seven-match Miami winning streak.
Match Statistics
| Aryna Sabalenka | Stat | Ann Li |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Aces | 6 |
| 1 | Double Faults | 0 |
| 72% | 1st Serve % | 60% |
| 64% | 1st Serve Points Won | 67% |
| 67% | 2nd Serve Points Won | 54% |
| 81 | Total Points Won | 80 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Aryna Sabalenka vs Ann Li at Miami 2026?
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Ann Li 7-6(5), 6-4 in the Round of 64 at the Miami Open on March 21, 2026.
How close was the Sabalenka vs Li match at Miami?
The match was decided by a single point—Sabalenka won 81 total points to Li’s 80, with the first set requiring a tiebreak and no break points created by either player.
How many aces did Ann Li hit against Sabalenka in Miami?
Ann Li hit six aces without a single double fault, one more ace than Sabalenka’s five, but lost on second-serve effectiveness (54% points won vs. Sabalenka’s 67%).
Is Aryna Sabalenka the defending Miami champion?
Yes, Sabalenka won the 2025 Miami title and is now defending her championship. She has won seven consecutive matches at this event dating back to last year’s title run.
What’s Next
Sabalenka advances to the Round of 32, where she will continue her bid for a third consecutive Miami title. The two-time defending champion has now won seven straight matches at this event dating back to her 2025 title run, and her recent Indian Wells championship suggests she remains the player to beat on hard courts.
Head-to-head history: Ann Li vs Aryna Sabalenka.
