Elena Rybakina got a perfect chance to get a revenge against Aryna Sabalenka after she beat her this year in Melbourne.
Currently, Rybakina and Sabalenka are without a doubt two of the three players that are dominating the WTA Tour and so it's not a surprise that they met once again. This time, they were playing for a title at the 2023 Indian Wells.
In the previous rounds, Rybakina defeated the world no. 1 Iga Swiatek, while Sabalenka outplayed the likes of Maria Sakkari and it was obvious that both players were entering the final clash in top form.
The tension was palpable from the outset as both players took to the court, each eager to secure the Indian Wells title. The first set proved to be an unforgettable battle, with neither player willing to yield.
Initially, Sabalenka got a one-break advantage but Rybakina got a break back and after she couldn't use her set point in the twelfth game, a tie-break had to decide.
When entering the tie-break, no one knew that we'll witness a real battle. Both players had their chances to end it as Rybakina had five set points while Sabalenka had two. Ultimately, it was Rybakina who claimed the set, winning an intense tiebreak 13-11.
Energized by her hard-earned success in the opening set, Rybakina maintained her momentum into the second. Sabalenka, visibly frustrated by her missed opportunities in the tiebreak, struggled to find her rhythm.
Rybakina capitalized on this, swiftly securing a commanding 2-0 lead after winning the first six points of the second set. The Kazakh then increased her advantage to 5-2 as she served for the match for the first time.
But Sabalenka kept fighting and won the following seven points, stopping Rybakina for a while. But ultimately, Rybakina served out the match, winning it 7-6(11), 6-4 to claim the 2023 Indian Wells title.
This win just proves how good Rybakina really is. She won the Wimbledon in 2022 but didn't receive any points for it, and this year, she's second in the WTA Race, just behind Sabalenka.
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