Sabalenka wins first Indian Wells title with victory against Rybakina | Tennis News
Aryna Sabalenka Claims First Indian Wells Title with Victory over Elena Rybakina
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (March 16, 2026) – World number one Aryna Sabalenka secured her first title at the Indian Wells tournament on Sunday, defeating Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in a tightly contested final. This victory marked a significant personal milestone for Sabalenka, as it avenged her earlier loss to Rybakina at the Australian Open final in January.
Sabalenka, who has struggled at this event in the past, previously lost her last two Indian Wells finals, including a loss to Rybakina in 2023. “I want to congratulate Elena. I know we’ll face each other many more times,” she said in her post-match remarks.
Rybakina, a two-time Grand Slam champion, started strong, breaking Sabalenka’s serve to take an early 4-2 lead in the first set. Rybakina efficiently exploited weaknesses in Sabalenka’s backhand, closing out the set with an advantage.
Despite her rocky start, Sabalenka regrouped in the second set. After an initial break by Rybakina, she responded by winning the next three games, eventually dominating the set and forcing a decisive third set. By the end of the second, she had recorded four aces and reduced her unforced errors compared to her opponent.
The final set proved to be a match within a match. Sabalenka broke Rybakina early, maintaining a 3-1 lead before Rybakina fought back to level the set at 5-5. Ultimately, both players reached a tiebreak at 6-6. Sabalenka pushed ahead to secure the title with a final score of 8-6 in the tiebreaker.
Following the win, Sabalenka expressed her joy and relief, stating, “This is a dream come true. I want to thank my team for always being there, and my fiancée – what a week! Getting a puppy, getting engaged, and winning a title. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
With this victory, Sabalenka now leads the head-to-head series against Rybakina 9-7. As a consequence of her performance in the final, Rybakina is anticipated to rise to the second position in the WTA rankings next week.
Sabalenka’s triumph comes during a particularly eventful week, as she recently announced her engagement to her Brazilian fiancée, Georgios Frangulis.
The match showcased the ongoing rivalry between the two athletes, a contest expected to shape women’s tennis for years to come.
