Sabalenka edges Rybakina to claim long-awaited Indian Wells title
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates victory over Elena Rybakina in the Indian Wells WTA 1000 final (CLIVE BRUNSKILL) Aryna Sabalenka saved a match point on the way to a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) victory over Elena Rybakina on Sunday to claim a long-awaited first Indian Wells title. Sabalenka ended a frustrating run of finals futility against Rybakina, who had won their last four title clashes starting with a triumph at Indian Wells in 2023 and including a nail-biter at the Australian Open in January. Sabalenka rallied from a break down in the second set and fought off a match point trailing 5-6 in the tiebreaker before finally gaining the longed-for title -- and a healthy measure of revenge.
"Thanks God I got this trophy," said Sabalenka, who lost to Russian teen Mirra Andreeva in last year's final. She had appeared on her way with a break for 2-1 in the third set. But Rybakina piled on the return pressure to break back for 5-5 and fought off five break points in the next game.
Deflated but determined, Sabalenka held at love to force the tiebreaker, rallying from 3-5 down before saving match point with a stunning backhand winner. She won the next point on Rybakina's serve and delivered another massive serve herself to seal it. "On that five-all game, I was really upset each time I would miss her second serve," Sabalenka said.
"I felt like I had a lot of opportunities in that game, which I didn't use. I didn't feel my best, for sure, after that game. "But what I'm happy with is that in the next one I was able to pull out great serves to get that game and get into the tiebreak.
" Sabalenka said that the "boiling" temperature on court had her "dying" in the tiebreaker, but she could see that Rybakina was affected, too. "So I was trying to push myself basically to the limit," Sabalenka said. "I'm super happy that in those last three points of the match, I was able to pull out really great tennis and get the win.