Google News Indian Wells: Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the title, the Highlights
by LORENZO CIOTTI | VIEW 3031
Elena Rybakina, won for the first time the BNP Paribas Open, played on the Californian hard-courts of Indian Wells, beating 7-6(11) 6-4 Aryna Sabalenka. The Kazakh, champion at Wimbledon last year, conquered the fourth title of her career at the age of 23, after those in Bucharest in 2019 and Hobart in 2020.
She succeeds world number 1 Iga Swiatek whom she defeated in the semifinals, like two months ago ago in the round of 16 at the Australian Open. It was the victory of the first set that decided the fate of the match in favor of Rybakina, because then the frustration only increased for the opponent, weighed down by a disastrous number of unforced errors.
The Belarusian wasted two set points and committed ten double faults, three of which in the decisive game. Great level in the first set, and great balance. The first four games last 44 points. The 44th point is the one with which Sabalenka signs the first break, breaking the festival of cinema shots with a lucky forehand hit.
Rybakina stays present and signs the counter-break four games later, everything seems to have remained the same, but that's where the tension begins to creep into the exchanges. Sabalenka collects double faults and gives Rybakina another five balls in the set.
The Kazakh does everything in order not to materialize them, yet she takes home the first game for 13-11 after 1h 19 ', two set points canceled for the opponent and many uncertainties forgiven in the decisive points.
Indian Wells: Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to win the title
In the second set Rybakina finds all the cleanliness of her tennis.
Sabalenka travels slower than the game imposed by the opponent. In the first game there is an immediate break, at 3-1 the Belarusian has to work overtime in order not to double the disadvantage. Rybakina composes herself, she grabs the racket like she never did in the important points of this match and celebrates her first title of the season.
The trophy that a year ago belonged to Iga Swiatek, number 1 that Rybakina has already defeated twice this season, belongs to her. Below the highlights:
