INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (11), 6-4 on Sunday to win the BNP Paribas Open and hand the world’s second-ranked participant simply her second loss this 12 months.
Rybakina carried the momentum from her straight-sets semifinal upset of top-ranked Iga Swiatek into the ultimate and beat Sabalenka for the primary time in 5 profession conferences.
For the primary time of their budding rivalry, the match did not go three units. Sabalenka went the gap to beat Rybakina within the Australian Open closing in January. In that match, Sabalenka fired 17 aces and rallied from a set all the way down to win her first Grand Slam title.
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This time, the Tenth-seeded Rybakina had seven aces and No. 2 seed Sabalenka dedicated 10 double faults. Sabalenka gained simply 11 of 35 second-serve factors.
“I’d say that I used to be tremendous upset with my serve, so I used to be again to outdated habits,” she mentioned. “I used to be like slightly bit overreacting on issues, and I wasn’t there within the first two video games within the second set.”
Rybakina broke for leads of 2-0 and 5-2 within the second set earlier than Sabalenka closed to 5-4. However Rybakina served out the victory in simply over two hours.
Rybakina earned $1,262,220 for the victory; Sabalenka earned $662,360.
“It was an unimaginable two weeks right here,” Rybakina mentioned on court docket through the trophy ceremony. “It was a tremendous environment. I need to congratulate Aryna, as properly, wonderful outcomes this week.”
Listening to that, Sabalenka caught her tongue out at Rybakina, the present Wimbledon champion.
“This was the primary time it went my manner,” Rybakina informed the group.
Elena Rybakina’s win over Aryna Sabalenka in Sunday’s BNP Paribas Open closing was her first victory over the world No. 2 in 5 makes an attempt. Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports activities
With that, Sabalenka stepped ahead, took the mic and mentioned, “I’ll ensure that it was the final one.”
Then she smiled — a enjoyable second of levity after one other intense match between the ladies.
Rybakina improved her match report to 16-4 this 12 months; Sabalenka fell to 17-2.
With the win, Rybakina will transfer as much as No. 7 on this planet rankings.
Info from The Related Press and ESPN’s Alyssa Roenigk was included on this report.
