Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina advanced Friday to the final of the WTA 1000 tournament at Indian Wells, setting up another chapter in one of the fiercest rivalries in women’s tennis. Sabalenka, the world No. 1, will have a chance to settle old scores against Rybakina, who beat her in the 2023 Indian Wells final and in the Australian Open final in January.
The Belarusian reached her third Indian Wells final, one of the few fast-court events she has yet to win, after a commanding 6-3, 6-4 semifinal victory over Czech player Linda Noskova. After falling to young Russian Mirra Andreeva in last year’s final, Sabalenka has returned to the California desert in dominant form, not dropping a set so far.
Sabalenka, 27, gave little away against the 21-year-old Noskova, who was playing in her first Indian Wells semifinal and just her second at WTA 1000 level. The power of Sabalenka’s game overwhelmed the Czech on a court that, with temperatures rising above 30 degrees Celsius, played much faster than in previous days and clearly suited the top seed.
Sabalenka fired 11 aces to Noskova’s five, struck 37 winners and repeatedly put pressure on Noskova’s serve, which had been one of the Czech’s biggest strengths throughout the tournament. After taking the opening set comfortably, Sabalenka broke again at the start of the second. That early edge proved enough as she closed out the win in straight sets just before the match reached the hour-and-a-half mark.
“I was serving well and playing well,” Sabalenka said. “I like how I was putting pressure on her serve and, of course, I’m happy that I was able to close this match in two sets.” Asked about a possible final against Rybakina while the Kazakh was still on court in the second semifinal, Sabalenka made clear she would welcome it.
“If it’s her, honestly, I’m excited,” she said. “I feel like against Elena it’s always super aggressive. Everything is decided in the first few shots of the rally. If you control those first two shots, you’ll most likely win the point.” Rybakina later confirmed that matchup by defeating Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-4 in her first tournament as the new world No. 2.
The Kazakh moved ahead of Iga Swiatek in the rankings after the Polish star was knocked out in Thursday’s quarterfinals by Svitolina. Rybakina’s firepower proved too much for the veteran Ukrainian, who had not reached the semifinals in Indian Wells since 2019.
Svitolina, 31, was the first to break Rybakina’s powerful serve, but the Kazakh regrouped and took the opening set without needing a tiebreak. Rybakina then surged to a 4-0 lead in the second set, but nerves began to show as she tried to close out the match.
Svitolina responded by saving two match points, but Rybakina held firm, avoided being broken a second time and sealed her 12th straight victory over top-10 opponents. Although Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 8-7, Rybakina has won the last two meetings that ended with titles on the line, at the WTA Finals and the Australian Open, where she captured her second Grand Slam crown.
On the men’s side, Saturday’s semifinals will feature world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, while Italy’s Jannik Sinner will face Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
