Tops Sabalenka to claim the first WTA 1000 title of her career at the BNP Paribas Open
Watch the Match Highlights between Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells
Presented by Ed Emeanua
Elena Rybakina finally captured her first title of the year, and her first WTA 1000 title, at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday.
In a major upturn of January’s Australian Open championship match, Rybakina, the world’s Number 10 seed beat Number.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(11), 6-4 in the final, to emerge victorious at the initial championship of 2023’s Sunshine Double.
“Feels amazing,” Rybakina beamed after the encounter.
“It’s been tough but really good two weeks for me here.”
The win is Rybakina’s fourth career WTA singles title; her first since her historic Grand Slam singles title win at last year’s Wimbledon tournament.
Sabalenka entered the tie with a 4-0 meet record over her opponent, in which each of wins against Rybakina went three sets. However, Rybakina crunched out the first-set tiebreak, then parried a late second-set rally by the World No.2 to capture her first victory over Sabalenka.
“We both had chances [in the first set], but in the end, it went my way,” Rybakina said. “So I think it was important this first set, and then it was a bit easier to start the second with an early break.
“This tiebreak was really epic, I would say, with all these double faults and nerves. So, in the end, it was just focusing on every point and try to fight till the end.”