Indian Wells (USA) (EFE).- The Kazakh Elena Rybakina ‘revenge’ this Sunday from the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who beat her in the final of the Australian Open, by winning the duel for the Indian title Wells.
Rybakina, champion of the last edition of Wimbledon and number 10 in the world, defeated Sabalenka, who occupies the second position in the ranking, 7-6(11) and 6-4 in two hours and three minutes.
Born in Moscow, Rybakina thus won her first Masters 1000 final and also defeated Sabalenka for the first time, who had scored all four meetings between them so far.
His time in the Californian desert tournament, which is the first Masters 1000 of the season, was impeccable since in the semifinals he overwhelmed the world number one, the Polish Iga Swiatek, by a double 6-2.
For her part, Sabalenka, who had won all four of her Masters 1000 finals so far and had only lost one match in 18 games this year, had a very difficult afternoon at the worst moment.
Up to 10 double faults added up in a first set full of frustration for the Belarusian.
Sabalenka struggled in the first set
Even so, in the first set there was a very balanced and chilling match between the two as Rybakina wasted five set points before sealing the set on sixth chance after one hour and 18 minutes.
Sabalenka also had two set points but did not make them.
It looked like the Belarusian was on the verge of breaking down completely when she gave up her first turn to serve in the second set to loveless play.
Sabalenka kept trying until the end despite showing obvious signs of helplessness and Rybakina kept a cool head to seal her great victory.
