Aryna Sabalenka has ended her Indian Wells heartbreak, claiming her maiden BNP Paribas Open title with a dramatic 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) win over Elena Rybakina in the 2026 women’s final. The World No. 1 saved a championship point in a nail-biting tiebreak to secure her first trophy in the California desert after runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2025.
This victory marks Sabalenka’s 23rd WTA title and her second of the year, following her triumph in Brisbane in January. It also avenges her previous losses to Rybakina in high-stakes finals, snapping a four-match losing streak against the Kazakh star that included defeats at the 2025 WTA Finals and the 2026 Australian Open.
Second round: defeated Himeno Sakatsume 6-4, 6-2
Third round: defeated Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 6-1
Fourth round: defeated Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-4
Quarterfinals: defeated Victoria Mboko 7-6 (0), 6-4
Semifinals: defeated Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4
Final: defeated Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6)
