Sabalenka, rybakina advance to indian wells final

World number one Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have reached the final at the WTA1000 tournament in Indian Wells, setting up a rematch of last year's final.

Sabalenka defeats noskova; rybakina edges svitolina

Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, secured her place in the final after defeating Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-4. Sabalenka overcame Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4 to advance.

Sabalenka, who leads the rankings by a significant margin, has twice lost in the Indian Wells final, most recently to Rybakina in 2023. Rybakina’s victory propels her to the second spot in the world rankings, displacing Svitolina.

“I really want this match,” Sabalenka stated emphatically after her semifinal win. “I’m going to make sure I’m more than ready on Sunday. I’m going to show my best tennis. This is the year.”

The pair have met twice this year, with Rybakina taking the edge in both encounters. The upcoming final promises a compelling clash of styles and a high-stakes battle for a prestigious title.