World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka retains her rank Monday after defeating Elena Rybakina in the women’s final at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Sabalenka saved a match point in the third-set tiebreaker on Rybakina’s serve, hitting a blistering return on a 121 mph serve before nailing a cross-court backhand winner to even the tiebreaker at 6-6.
She clinched the match by winning the next two points, the final one on her serve after Rybakina’s return went long.
“It was a very difficult match,” Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, told the crowd afterward. “Congratulations to Aryna and her team for all the achievements, and this final battle.”
It is the first BNP Paribas Open singles title for Sabalenka, the 27- year-old from Belarus who lost to Rybakina in the 2023 women’s final at Indian Wells, 7-6, 6-4. Sabalenka also lost last year’s BNP Paribas Open final to Mirra Andreeva, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
“Thank God I got this trophy,” Sabalenka told the crowd at the podium after the match. “What a week: getting a puppy, getting engaged and winning a title. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
Sabalenka improved to 17-1 on the year, with her only loss coming to Rybakina in the Australian Open final, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The BNP Paribas Open was Sabalenka’s first tournament since the Australian Open.
Sabalenka earned $1,511,380 for the tournament title. Rybakina received $612,340 as the runner-up.
