2026 Indian Wells Open: Aryna Sabalenka comes from behind to beat Elena Rybakina in a three-set classic

Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina across three sets to win her first Indian Wells Open title in the women’s singles final on Sunday (15 March).

In what was a rematch of the Australian Open grand slam tennis final earlier this year, Sabalenka was able to get the better of her opponent this time around, winning 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6).

In the opening set of their 16th career meeting, little separated this pair until the sixth game, which proved decisive. Rybakina earned the first break of the match with a masterclass in returning that her opposite number could not handle.

The 26-year-old carried that into the seventh game to hold serve, leaving Sabalenka with a mountain to climb. The latter managed to eat up ground slightly with a fast-paced game that saw the 27-year-old crucially hold, yet an unforced error while returning in the set decider handed control to Rybakina going into the second.

Sabalenka, having dropped a set for the first time in this tournament, had it all to do after the short break. Under the blistering sun, the pressure from Rybakina resulted in two double faults and an early break. The world No. 1 fought back to break in return, eventually going on to hold and edge ahead in the opening stages of the second set.

With the momentum now on the side of Sabalenka, she was able to break once more, this time it was the world No. 3 who double-faulted in a period of the match where Rybakina made several unforced errors. She began to turn things around, clawing her way back into the set, but Sabalenka proved too strong with multiple aces to make it one set a piece.

Rybakina wasted little time in establishing an initial lead in the third, holding serve, which her opponent matched with the second game. The Kazakhstan star showcased her composure with fine play at the net before landing a volley as the battle between the two continued.

With a break of serve, Sabalenka began to pull away, though not uncontested. Rybakina stayed with her at each stage, until a crucial hold of serve in the seventh game put the first seed within touching distance of her first singles title in this competition.

Just when it seemed like this was all but done in California, Rybakina began a remarkable turnaround when she broke serve to make it 5-5. In the 11th game, a relentless back-and-forth between the pair, she somehow held to take Sabalenka from serving for the set to serving to stay in the match. The highest-ranked women’s player in the world responded, holding firm and taking things to a tiebreak.

Leaving it all on the court, Sabalenka turned the tables once more in a momentum-swinging encounter that came down to the fine margins, doing what she couldn’t do in 2023 by beating Rybakina in the final. An epic, almost three-hour contest ended with her 23rd singles title, the first in this competition.

Click here to read article