Aryna Sabalenka will do ‘everything she can’ to finally win Indian Wells (Image: Getty)
Aryna Sabalenka has made it clear that she doesn’t want to lose another big final, as she gears up for a grudge match with Elena Rybakina. Since the beginning of 2025, the world No. 1 has lost three of the four Major finals she’s appeared in, with her latest loss coming to Rybakina at the Australian Open, and she’s “so done” with the brutal defeats.
Sabalenka also has a losing 0-2 record in championship matches in Indian Wells, but she’s hoping to make it third time lucky on Sunday as she faces her Kazakh rival for the trophy. The top seed in Indian Wells, Sabalenka has not dropped a set on her way to the final, but she’s nowhere near done yet.
“I just want to focus, if I make it to the final, I want to make sure that I get it, I get the trophy. You know, I’m so done of losing these big finals,” the four-time Major winner said after beating Linda Noskova.
“It felt like even though players were playing incredible tennis in those finals, I feel like I had so many opportunities that I didn’t use. And right now my mentality, if I make it to the final, I’ll go out there and, you know, I’ll do everything I can and everything I cannot to get that trophy.”
Sabalenka and Rybakina have formed a thrilling rivalry. They’ve already faced off 15 times, with Sabalenka winning eight of them. But the world No. 3 came out on top in their last meeting in Melbourne, and beat Sabalenka in the 2023 final here. Now, the 27-year-old is relishing the chance for revenge, and she knows exactly what she needs to do.
Reflecting on that 7-6(11) 6-4 loss, the Belarusian added: “The thing is I don’t remember anything. No, I remember that it was the tiebreak, like, really tight tiebreak, and I remember I had set points, and I double-faulted. Then it was very – I feel like I remember that I was one break up. Then she broke me back. Then it was a tiebreak, crazy tiebreak. Then I lost the first set. And things didn’t really go well in the second set. That’s what I remember.
Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka to win Indian Wells in 2023 (Image: Getty)
“You know, like, I feel like against Elena, it’s always super-aggressive, it’s all about the first few balls in every point. You know, if you dominate in those two points, I feel like most likely you’re gonna win the point. It’s very aggressive, very fast tennis. Yeah, if it’s her, I’m excited, actually.”
Rybakina also looked back on that 2023 meeting after reaching the Indian Wells final for the second time in her career. But the No. 3 seed knows it won’t be easy to repeat that result. “It was tough matches, any match I play against Aryna, and I have been serving well. I remember that match, but again, we played so many times, and I think it all depends in these moments, close moments, which we usually have for whoever steps in, plays more aggressive, more solid,” the Kazakh explained.
“As I always say, every day is different, every tournament is different, and you can play well one day and then the other day wake up and not feel the greatest. So I feel like you need to always try to find a way.
“We know each other’s game very well. It’s a lot about physical, I would say also, because here, the ball is heavy, the rallies a little bit longer than on the other hard courts, which are a little bit quicker. It’s gonna be a difficult match where we’re both gonna try to serve well, that’s for sure, put pressure, and, I mean, we will see what’s gonna happen.”
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