Aryna Sabalenka Breaks Her Losing Habit to Take Indian Wells Title!
Indian Wells
March 15, 2026
Aryna Sabalenka said she was sick of losing finals. Well she put that right at Indian Wells to win her maiden title in the Californian desert.
The world number one came from behind and saved a match point to edge former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
And Rybakina was very probably the one she most wanted to beat after recent reverses.
Sabalenka had suffered losses to the elegant Kazakh in the WTA Final and the Australian Open showpiece too.
Indian Wells isn’t a Grand Slam – but many would say it’s the next best thing. And it will steady Aryna’s nerves for even bigger tournaments going forward.
Aryna Sabalenka would dearly love to beat Rybakina at Wimbledon 2026 too – and land her first title on Centre Court.
Until now she has failed to get past the semi-finals at the All England Club. But such challenges are for the near future.
For now, Sabalenka can breathe a sigh of relief and hug her trophy tightly in California.
The first dramatic moments came when Aryna was 15-40 down at 4-3 up in the final set. She won the next four points.
But when the same thing happened as Sabalenka sought to serve out the match, Rybakina didn’t let her off the hook. Suddenly we were level at 5-5.
Elena escaped five break points in an epic eleventh game. She took the lead with some awesome first and second serving.
Rybakina just doesn’t seem to suffer from nerves in the way that Aryna does. But Sabalenka was so determined to avoid that bitter taste of defeat again.
She took this marvellous final to the tie-break it deserved. Could she get over the line at long last?
Not before having to save that match point with a sizzling cross court backhand. But this was Sabalenka’s day. And her month so far.
Sabalenka said afterwards: ‘Thank God I got this trophy. What a week! Getting engaged, getting a puppy and winning the title. I’ll never forget it!’
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will do Wimbledon 2026 proud if there’s another match-up between these superstars. We can be pretty confident of that.
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