Sabalenka conquers Indian Wells after epic battle against Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka Conquers Indian Wells in an Epic Battle

The world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, won the title at the Indian Wells tournament after defeating Elena Rybakina in a final full of emotion and drama. The final score was 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6), thus consolidating her first championship in this prestigious Californian tournament. Sabalenka, who had been the runner-up in 2023 and 2025, sealed her victory at the BNP Paribas Open with a powerful serve that Rybakina failed to return. The afternoon on the court was stifling, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. The 27-year-old tennis player had the opportunity to close the third set, but was broken at 5-4. Rybakina, for her part, had a championship point in the tiebreaker, but Sabalenka responded with a winning backhand.

I think the main idea going into this match was to be mentally strong, to stay strong, no matter what, to show with the body language that I’m here, I’m fighting. You have to get a win with incredible tennis and that was the main idea. I’m happy that it really worked.

Aryna Sabalenka

This triumph comes at a special moment for Sabalenka, who recently got a puppy and got engaged to Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis. “I will remember it for the rest of my life,” declared the tennis player. This match marked the sixteenth time the two players have faced each other, with Sabalenka leading the head-to-head record with a 9-7 balance. Rybakina, from Kazakhstan, had defeated Sabalenka at the WTA Finals in 2025 and at the Australian Open two months ago, in addition to defeating her in the Indian Wells final in 2023.

It was a very difficult match.

Elena Rybakina

Sabalenka won’t have much time to celebrate, as she will head to the Miami Open, where she will defend her title. “I’ll probably have a couple of drinks on the plane and that’s it,” Sabalenka said. “I’m the defending champion there, so I have to give my best tennis. But with these vibes that I’m taking from here, I think I’ll be able to be there and fight and do my best to defend that beautiful trophy.”