World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka claimed her first title at the Indian Wells Open after battling past Elena Rybakina in a dramatic three-set women’s singles final.
Sabalenka recovered from losing the opening set to defeat Rybakina 3–6, 6–3, 7–6, sealing the win in a tense deciding tie-break after more than two hours of intense tennis in California.
Rybakina started strongly, using her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play to take the first set. But Sabalenka responded with greater consistency and attacking returns in the second set to level the match and force a decider.
The final set turned into a tight contest with both players refusing to back down. Sabalenka eventually held her nerve in the tie-break to clinch the prestigious title, often called the “fifth Grand Slam” on the tennis calendar.
After the match, Sabalenka admitted the victory was especially satisfying after previous disappointments at the tournament.
“It means a lot to finally win here. I just kept fighting for every point,” she said.
The triumph adds another major trophy to Sabalenka’s growing career achievements and strengthens her position among the top players on the tour alongside stars like Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff. Meanwhile, Rybakina once again showed her quality with a strong run to the final.
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