Under the scorching California sun, Aryna Sabalenka finally broke her Indian Wells curse, snagging her first BNP Paribas Open trophy. The match was a marathon, lasting over two and a half hours, where the World No. 1 showed some guts, beating her longtime rival Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6). Sabalenka had lost two finals here before, so when she was down a set and a break, it looked like history might repeat itself.
But she clawed her way back. This win is her 23rd singles title and her 10th at the WTA 1000 level, locking in her spot at the top and getting sweet revenge for her recent Australian Open loss to Rybakina.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina: India Wells Open 2026
| Aryna Sabalenka | Elena Rybakina | |
| Final Score | 3, 6, 7 (8) | 6, 3, 6 (6) |
| Aces | 10 | 12 |
| Total Winners | 29 | 31 |
| Break Points Won | 3 / 9 | 3 / 8 |
| Total Points Won | 100 | 104 |
| Match Duration | 2 Hours 31 Minutes | – |
Sabalenka Ends Final Hoodoo With Epic Comeback
But Sabalenka, nicknamed the “Tiger” for a reason, didn’t back down. She let out some frustration, got aggressive, and broke Rybakina at love. Suddenly, the Belarusian shifted gears, rattling off four straight games to take the second set 6-3. Just like that, the match was heading to a third set, and the energy in Stadium 1 was electric.
Indian Wells 2026 Champs
Women’s: Aryna Sabalenka
23rd WTA Title – 10th WTA 1000 – 14th Big Title
Men’s: Jannik Sinner
25th ATP Title – 6th Masters 1000 – Hard Court Big Title Set Complete – 12th Big Title#TennisParadise #IndianWells pic.twitter.com/EhZeD2zZGS
— MK Sharma ✍️ (@EmediaManoj) March 16, 2026
The third set featured high-pressure tennis. Sabalenka broke early to go 3-1 ahead. Rybakina fought back and tied it at 5-5. The 11th game lasted more than 12 minutes as Rybakina saved five break points to reach 6-5. In the tiebreak, she had a championship point at 6-5 on serve, but Sabalenka hit a sharp cross-court backhand to stay in it. The World No. 1 closed it with two points to win, then dropped to her knees from fatigue and relief.
A Big Milestone For Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka just wrapped up a pretty wild two weeks. She got engaged to Georgios Frangulis, welcomed a new puppy named Ash, and pulled off a huge win in the desert. On the court, she showed everyone she’s got nerves of steel, shaking off a shaky finals record against Rybakina and proving she’s the top player in the world right now. Now she heads into the Miami Open as the reigning champ and pretty much owns the hard court scene at the moment.
Also Read: Dua Lipa Looks Dejected as Carlos Alcaraz Struggles in Indian Wells 2026 Semi-Final — VIDEO
