Aryna Sabalenka is the Indian Wells champion, having come from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina in the final.
It was undeniably one of the best matches of the year so far, with the world’s two best players clashing for one of the sport’s biggest titles.
In the end, it was fitting that the match was decided by a third-set championship tiebreaker, as the Belarusian came from 3-5 down to steal the win.
Martina Navratilova, watching on from courtside, was left particularly stunned by what she was watching from Aryna Sabalenka as the match came to its sparkling conclusion.
Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman react to Aryna Sabalenka winning the Indian Wells title
Speaking live on Sky Sports, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion was effusive in her praise for the new champion.
Discussing the tiebreak in particular, as Sabalenka saved a championship point on her way to the crown, Navratilova admitted: “The way she saved that match point, I screamed. She hit three quality shots, Rybakina hits a 121mph first serve and it comes back with interest, and then two unbelievable ground strokes. I don’t know if I have seen a better save of a match point than that.”
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Tim Henman would add: “The ball striking, the power on the serve, from both wings. They were going from corner to corner, they were crushing it. The lack of unforced errors emphasised how confident both players are.
“It’s one of those scenarios where you just feel sad that somebody has to lose and Rybakina came so very close with that match point. An amazing match.”
Navratilova compared Sabalenka to Novak Djokovic earlier in the week due to her incredible tiebreak record. Winning a third-set tiebreak to claim the title will have certainly solidified that notion.
Aryna Sabalenka ends three-year Elena Rybakina curse
Whilst Sabalenka has recorded victories over Elena Rybakina in the last three years, it’s incredible to think that this represents the first time that the world number one has beaten her in a final since 2023.
That came in the Australian Open, which was the first Grand Slam title of Sabalenka’s career.
Who wins more Grand Slams in their career – Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka?
Since then, the 27-year-old has managed to accumulate another three, but was stopped from securing her fifth in Melbourne earlier this year because of Rybakina.
This is one of four finals the Kazakh has beaten Sabalenka in since then, with today’s Indian Wells title ending the rut and a three-year curse.
