At the end of January, Elena Rybakina lost in the Australian Open final to Aryna Sabalenka, in one of the best grand slam finals in recent years. Sunday afternoon, in Indian Wells, Rybakina took revenge by winning in two sets of 7-6 (11) and 6-4.
Like in Australia, this tennis match felt like a battlefield. There was everything in this duel. Winning shots, errors, racquet throws, but above all exchanges of exceptional quality.
The two best players since the start of the season offered a final worthy of a major tournament.
Of a much calmer and more passive nature than her rival, Rybakina was patient. She let her rival make mistakes. Sabalenka committed no less than 10 double faults in the first set. On the other hand, the Kazakh impressed with her returns of service and her surgical precision. It was in this phase of the game that the final was played.
A few months after winning the Wimbledon tournament, Rybakina offers himself the most important Masters 1000 of the season.
More details will follow.