Sabalenka

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka improved to 17-1 in 2023 by easing past last year's finalist Maria Sakkari in the BNP Paribas Open semifinals.

Belinda Bencic (Adelaide International 2 and Abu Dhabi champion) is the only player other than Sabalenka to have won two titles this season. Sakkari saved the first two set points she faced with unreturned serves, but she sent a forehand out of court on Sabalenka’s third opportunity. But Sabalenka prevailed in 1 hour and 23 minutes in the Californian desert, increasing her head-to-head lead over Sakkari to 5-3. Sabalenka has also won five of her past six matches against Top 10 opposition. Adding victories: Sabalenka has compiled a 17-1 win-loss record this season, and she has lost only five sets in her 18 matches this year. Sabalenka had lost her past three WTA 1000 semifinals before grabbing this victory over Sakkari.

Elena Rybakina fired seven aces in routing top-ranked Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-2 on Friday to advance to the BNP Paribas Open final.

Sabalenka led 2-0 in the second before Sakkari tied it 2-all. "Maria's such a great player and I knew it was going to be tough." pic.twitter.com/Kk82CJBbnp— Sakkari, runner-up in last year's final, fell to 3-5 in her career against Sabalenka. Rybakina needed just 76 minutes to finish off Swiatek, the defending champion. Rybakina also beat the Polish star at the Australian Open in January on her way to finishing runner-up.

The match was delayed by half an hour by audio problems in Stadium 1 at the Indian Wels Tennis Garden.

After a delay of a few minutes, the bells did play and the two players walked onto the court, but then a microphone for the on-court announcer went out, meaning Sabalenka walked onto the court with no introduction. The players remained on serve after that, allowing Sabalenka to serve out for the match. Sakkari’s serve was broken again in the final game of the set for a 6-2 win for Sabalenka. That’s okay to be on the list, but still I have to work and I have to bring my tennis.” That was evident Friday, with Sabalenka breaking Sakkari’s serve five times in the two sets and bouncing back each time With strong serves and powerful ground strokes, Sabalenka advanced to her first BNP Paribas Open singles final with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Maria Sakkari.

Elena Rybakina, implacable face à la N.1 mondiale Iga Swiatek, et Aryna Sabalenka, intraitable contre Maria Sakkari, se retrouveront en finale.

« Je me sens très bien sur le court en ce moment, mais je comprends aussi que ce ne sera pas toujours le cas. Je me suis dit que ce n'était pas grave de faire ces erreurs, que je n'étais pas un robot, que je pouvais rater ces coups. Peut-être est-ce dû au fait qu'elle avait déjà passé plus du double de temps que sa rivale sur les courts, pour atteindre le dernier carré... Et si elle plaidé « une petite gêne au niveau des côtes » en conférence de presse, rarement a-t-on vu la gagnante de Roland-Garros et de l'US Open aussi impuissante sur un court. « Si je joue comme aujourd'hui, je pense que j'ai toutes mes chances », a admis la lauréate de Wimbledon l'an passé. J'ai livré un de mes meilleurs matches cette saison », a ajouté la 10e mondiale.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Elena Rybakina a servi sept as lors de sa victoire de 6-2, 6-2 face à Iga Swiatek, vendredi, pour se qualifier pour la finale du ...

Sabalenka a pris l’ascendant contre Sakkari dès le début du match. «Ça va être énorme, a déclaré Sabalenka, qui a remporté le titre en double en 2019. Rybakina n’a eu besoin que de 76 minutes pour achever Swiatek, la championne en titre.

Aryna Sabalenka knows all about complexities of closure. Today, the Australian Open champion showed fierce finishing power to charge into her maiden Indian ...

I'm super happy with my performance today and super happy to get this win." "I really wanted to get this one after that tough loss in the [WTA] Finals against her. 2 Aryna Sabalenka broke serve five times defeating Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 to charge into her maiden Indian Wells final and improve to 17-1 in 2023.