Rybakina and Sabalenka meet again in Indian Wells 50 days after the Australian Open final

The WTA 1000 in Indian Wells repeats the script of the recent Australian Open. Just 50 days after Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will meet in the final of the first majorthe new women’s tennis classic will be repeated tomorrow at the Tennis Garden headquarters.

Sabalenka imposed logic in the first semifinal against Maria Sakkari, 6-2, 6-3. More surprising was the defeat of Iga Swiatek, the world number one and with a streak of 10 victories in the tournament, at the hands of Rybakina, by a double 6-2.

The world of tennis already knows that Swiatek’s weakness is called Rybakina, his executioner also in the round of 16 of the last Australian Open.

Iga was left without defending the crown in the Californian desert, something that only Martina Navratilova had achieved in the history of the contest (1990-91).

Sabalenka dominates the precedents with her rival 4-0 although the Kazakh will take to the court with the confidence of knowing that next Monday she will be among the eight best rackets on the circuit, her best ranking ever.

The Minsk tennis player is also a favorite because of her status as world number two, because only Carolina Garcia has won as much as her this season, 17-1and because she is the leader in titles in 2023 with two, the same as the Swiss Belinda Bencic.

To find her only setback, you have to go back to the Dubai quarterfinals with Barbora Krejcikova, later champion of the event.