Elena Rybakina topples Baptiste in the 2nd round to clash vs Townsend or Kostyuk at the BNP Paribas Open

Kazakhstani star advances to the 3rd round after 2-hour, 16-minute battle

Mar. 8, 2026 at 6:42am

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Elena Rybakina defeated Hailey Baptiste 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-2 in the 2nd round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Rybakina, the 2023 champion at this event, will face either Taylor Townsend or Marta Kostyuk in the 3rd round. The match lasted 2 hours and 16 minutes, with Rybakina winning 99 total points compared to 94 for Baptiste.

Why it matters

Rybakina's victory over Baptiste continues her strong run at the BNP Paribas Open, where she is the defending champion. The match showcased Rybakina's resilience after dropping the 2nd set, as she regained control in the 3rd set to secure the win. This result sets up an intriguing 3rd round clash against either Townsend or Kostyuk, two rising stars on the WTA Tour.

The details

In the closely contested 1st set, Rybakina broke Baptiste early to take a 1-0 lead, but Baptiste broke back to level the set at 4-4. Rybakina eventually won the set in a tiebreaker 7-6(5). Baptiste bounced back in the 2nd set, breaking Rybakina twice to win 6-2. However, Rybakina regained her form in the 3rd set, breaking Baptiste twice to close out the match 6-2.

  • On Saturday, March 8, 2026, Rybakina defeated Baptiste in the 2nd round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The players

Elena Rybakina

A Kazakhstani professional tennis player who won the BNP Paribas Open in 2023.

Hailey Baptiste

An American professional tennis player who faced off against Rybakina in the 2nd round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Taylor Townsend

An American professional tennis player who Rybakina may face in the 3rd round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Marta Kostyuk

A Ukrainian professional tennis player who Rybakina may face in the 3rd round of the BNP Paribas Open.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The winner of the Rybakina vs. Townsend/Kostyuk match will advance to the 4th round of the BNP Paribas Open.

The takeaway

Rybakina's victory over Baptiste showcases her ability to bounce back after dropping a set, demonstrating the mental toughness that has made her a champion at this event. Her upcoming 3rd round match against either Townsend or Kostyuk will be a highly anticipated clash between some of the WTA Tour's rising stars.