World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has delivered one of the most dramatic wins of her career, defeating Elena Rybakina in a thrilling three-set final at the Indian Wells Open.
Sabalenka battled back from a set down and saved a match point in the deciding tiebreak to claim the title 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 (8–6) in front of a packed crowd in California.
The victory was particularly sweet for the Belarusian star, who had struggled against Rybakina in recent meetings. Since beating her rival to claim her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2023, Sabalenka had lost all four finals they contested, including the WTA Finals last year and another showdown in Melbourne earlier this season.
Heading into the final, Rybakina appeared to have the upper hand. The Kazakh powerhouse arrived with a 12-match winning streak against top-10 opponents and quickly took control, claiming the opening set and moving a break ahead in the second.
But Sabalenka refused to let another major final slip away.
After saying earlier in the week she was “so done” with losing big matches, the world No.1 lifted her level when it mattered most. She surged back in the second set, winning four straight games to swing the momentum and force the match into a deciding third set.
The final set turned into a battle of raw power, with both players trading heavy groundstrokes from the baseline. Sabalenka struck first, breaking serve in the third game to edge ahead.
Still, the contest was far from over.
Rybakina’s relentless pressure paid off when Sabalenka was unable to serve out the match at 5–4, sending the final to a tense tiebreak. At one point, it looked like history might repeat itself, with Sabalenka facing a match point at 5–6.
But this time she held her nerve.
The top seed responded with a series of crushing backhands to save the match point before taking her first opportunity to seal the title moments later.
After the match, Sabalenka celebrated on court with her fiancé and her new puppy — capping off what she described as an unforgettable week.
“What a week,” she said during the on-court presentation. “Getting a puppy, getting engaged and winning a title. I will definitely remember it for the rest of my life.”
Sabalenka’s victory was also impressive for its consistency. She dropped just one set during the entire tournament — the opening set of the final — before completing the comeback.
For Rybakina, the result was still significant. Her run to the final will see her rise to world No.2 in the rankings, leapfrogging Iga Swiatek for the first time.
But on this occasion, the spotlight belonged firmly to Sabalenka, who showed resilience and composure to finally end her frustrating run against one of her toughest rivals.
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