World number one’s triumph against Elena Rybakina avenges her loss to the Kazakh in the 2026 Australian Open final.Listen to this articleListen to this article | 3 minsinfoBy ReutersPublished On 16 Mar 202616 Mar 2026Click here to share on social mediashare2Shareplus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoWorld number one Aryna Sabalenka finally conquered her Indian Wells demons on Sunday, defeating Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in a breathless final to claim the desert title for the first time and secure her 23rd career crown.The victory was sweet redemption for the Belarusian, who had lost her previous two Indian Wells finals, including to Rybakina herself in 2023, and had begun the year with a defeat to the Kazakh 26-year-old in the Australian Open final in January.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listA two-time Grand Slam champion, Rybakina dominated the opening exchanges of the first set, breaking Sabalenka to surge into a 4-2 lead and exploiting the Belarusian’s backhand to close it out. It was the first time Sabalenka had dropped a set in the tournament.The second set began no more comfortably, with Sabalenka letting out an audible yell as Rybakina broke her in the opening game. But the four-time Belarusian Grand Slam champion dug deep, responding with a love hold to level at 1-1, and gradually turned the tide.A second break in the fourth game gave Sabalenka a commanding 4-1 lead, and although Rybakina pressed, the Belarusian’s intensity proved too much as she took the set with four aces and conceded nine unforced errors to Rybakina’s 13. Sabalenka fought back from a set down to outlast Rybakina in three sets at the Indian Wells [Clive Brunskill/Getty Images via AFP]The decider was a match in itself. Sabalenka broke early to lead 3-1, only for Rybakina to claw back, level at 5-5 and take the lead for the first time in the set. Sabalenka responded immediately to force a tiebreak, where the score reached 6-6, before she pulled clear to seal it at 8-6. Advertisement With that final point, Sabalenka dropped to her knees – the relief of a champion who had waited three years and endured three finals to finally get her hands on the trophy.“I w …
