Rybakina tops No. 2 Sabalenka, wins Indian Wells

Key Facts

- 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 player just her second loss this year.
Rybakina carried the momentum from her straight-set semifinal upset of top-ranked Iga Swiatek into the final and beat Sabalenka for the first time in five career meetings.
Rybakina, playing in her first WTA 1000 final, dropped serve in the opening set when Sabalenka landed a forehand lob just inside the baseline for a 3-2 lead, followed by a routine hold that gave Sabalenka control.
But Rybakina refused to back down and immediately held at love to steady the ship before Sabalenka handed back the break with an untimely double fault that levelled the match at 4-4.