Aryna Sabalenka won her first Indian Wells title after beating Elena Rybakina in the final.
Sabalenka lost to Rybakina in the Australian Open final earlier this year, and had also lost to the Kazakhstani in the Indian Wells final in 2023.
It appeared that it could be another defeat in a final against Rybakina for Sabalenka, having faced a match point in the third set tie-break.
However, Sabalenka was able to save this match point to beat Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) to win Indian Wells for the first time.
Every word Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina said after the Indian Wells final
Rybakina had won her last four consecutive finals against Sabalenka, so found herself in the rare position of having to make the runner-up speech after losing to the world number one.
Despite the disappointment of losing in the final, Rybakina was still looking to take positives from her run to the final at Indian Wells.
“It was a very difficult match, congratulations to Aryna and her team for all her achievements,” Rybakina said in the on-court interview. “Hopefully we will play very soon again, in this stage of the tournament.
“Of course, I want to say thank you to my team. Not the result we wanted today but it’s been a good couple of weeks. We try and stay positive and move on for the next one.
“I want to say thank you to the crowd for such an amazing atmosphere and their support. To all my sponsors and family, hopefully I did not forget anyone. Thanks so much again guys, I hope to be back soon.”
Who will be ranked higher by the end of 2026 – Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka?
Sabalenka then stepped up to make her championship winning speech, thanking the fans, her team and new fiancé, Georgios Frangulis, for their support.
“What a day. It’s boiling hot. I’m not sure if I can make sense right now but I will try my best,” said Sabalenka. “Elena, congrats on another great tournament. I really hope we are going to face each other more in the last stages of the tournaments and bring these battles on court.
“Thanks to you guys [the fans] for bringing this incredible atmosphere every day and staying in these hot conditions and supported us. Please stay hydrated it’s super hot, so guys take care!
“I want to thank my team for always being there and advising me the best things. For supporting me no matter what and listening to all the crap I say when I am playing.
“And thanks for my fiancé! What a week. Getting a puppy, getting engaged and getting a title. I will definitely remember it until the rest of my life.”
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Aryna Sabalenka makes tennis history after winning Indian Wells
Not only has Sabalenka won an Indian Wells final at the first time of asking, but she has also made tennis history in her victory over Rybakina.
Since the first WTA tournament at Indian Wells in 1989, no world number one player has won the title after losing the first set of the final.
Sabalenka has changed this after coming from a set down to beat Rybakina, as she now extends her lead at the top of the world rankings.
The Belarusian will not have too long to celebrate her victory in Indian Wells, with the Miami Open taking place next week.
Sabalenka won the Miami Open for the first time last year, and she will begin her title defence against either Ann Li or a qualifier, with the main draw getting underway on Tuesday, March 17.
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