Aryna Sabalenka finally conquered her "Tennis Paradise" demons on Sunday, emerging victorious in a breathless 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) final against Elena Rybakina. In a match that lasted two and a half hours, the World No. 1 overcame a set-and-a-break deficit and saved a championship point in the deciding tiebreak to claim her first BNP Paribas Open trophy and her 23rd career title.
The victory marks a massive psychological breakthrough for Sabalenka, who had lost her previous four finals against the Kazakh, including at the 2023 Indian Wells final and the 2026 Australian Open. After falling in the 2023 and 2025 finals here, the relief was palpable as the Belarusian dropped to her knees upon clinching the win.
The match was a battle of power tennis, with both players pushing their physical limits under the blazing California sun.
Opening salvo: Rybakina dominated early, breaking for a 4-2 lead and taking the first set—the only set Sabalenka dropped all tournament.
Turning point: After Rybakina broke again to start the second set, Sabalenka channeled her mounting frustration into a surge, winning four games in a row to take the set 6-3.
Marathon decider: The third set featured a 12-minute game at 5-5 where Rybakina saved five break points to lead 6-5. In the subsequent tiebreak, Rybakina held a championship point at 6-5, but Sabalenka responded with a signature "crunching" cross-court backhand winner to stay alive.
For Sabalenka, the victory was the "exclamation mark" on a life-changing week off the court.
What a week, getting a puppy, getting engaged, and winning a title. I will definitely remember it for the rest of my life. This is truly tennis paradise and I'm always happy to come here. Thank God I finally got this trophy. This is everything, this is the dream.Aryna Sabalenka
Reflecting on her mental resilience, she added:
With so many finals that I have lost, they also teach me a lot of things... the game is never done till it's done. Even though I lost so many big ones and so many painful ones, I'm still able to go out there and stay focused and just fight for it.Aryna Sabalenka
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Elena Rybakina will find a silver lining on Monday. The Kazakh is set to leapfrog Iga Swiatek to become the World No. 2 for the first time in her career. Rybakina acknowledged the razor-thin margins of the defeat:
I think that match was very close, especially in the third set. It's roulette. You cannot say that someone did something extraordinary. My level of energy dropped a lot after the first set... it was a fight with the conditions, with the opponent, with yourself at some point.Elena Rybakina
Rivalry: Sabalenka ends a 4-match losing streak in finals against Rybakina.
WTA 1000 milestone: This is Sabalenka’s 10th WTA 1000 trophy.
Hard-court dominance: The win marks her 20th hard-court title out of 23 total.
2026 season: Sabalenka now has two titles this year (Brisbane and Indian Wells).
Personal life: Sabalenka celebrated the win with her fiancé, Georgios Frangulis, and her new puppy, Ash.
| Statistic | Aryna Sabalenka (1) | Elena Rybakina (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) | 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(6) |
| Aces | 10 | 12 |
| Winners | 29 | 24 |
| First-Serve Points Won | 65% | 65% |
| Match Duration | 2h 30m | 2h 30m |
The tour now shifts immediately to Florida for the Miami Open, where Sabalenka enters as the reigning champion. With her Indian Wells losses finally put to bed and the World No. 1 ranking solidified, the Belarusian is in prime position to complete the prestigious "Sunshine Double."