Rybakina and Sabalenka to meet in Indian Wells final rematch

The world No. 1 and No. 2 players will face off again with a title on the line.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:59am

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Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, will take on Elena Rybakina, the world No. 2-to-be, in the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. This will be a rematch of their Australian Open final earlier this year, which Rybakina won. Sabalenka is looking to finally break through and win a big final, having lost 4 of the 5 championship matches against Rybakina.

Why it matters

This matchup between the top two players in women's tennis is highly anticipated, as Sabalenka and Rybakina have developed a fierce rivalry at the top of the sport. Rybakina has had Sabalenka's number in finals, but Sabalenka is determined to finally get the better of her rival and claim a big title.

The details

Sabalenka defeated Linda Nosková in the semifinals to reach the final, while Rybakina beat Elina Svitolina. The conditions in Indian Wells, with the courts playing faster than usual, could favor the big-serving Sabalenka, who has been hitting more aces than normal this tournament. However, Rybakina is also serving well and is prepared for a physically demanding match.

  • Sabalenka will begin her 82nd week as world No. 1 on Monday.
  • Rybakina will reach a career-high ranking of No. 2 on Monday.

The players

Aryna Sabalenka

The world No. 1 player, a 27-year-old from Belarus who has won 4 Grand Slam titles but has struggled to win big finals, with a 22-20 record in championship matches.

Elena Rybakina

The world No. 2-to-be, a 23-year-old from Kazakhstan who has won 4 of the 5 finals she has played against Sabalenka, including the 2023 Australian Open final.

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What they’re saying

“I'm so done with losing these big finals. It felt like even though players were playing incredible tennis in those finals, I feel like I had so many opportunities that I didn't use.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

“I think that I was always playing against top players well. Maybe the statistic is not the same, and I was losing these tough matches a bit more before, but I think with the years, with experience, I'm getting this consistency, so hopefully I can just keep on going.”

— Elena Rybakina

What’s next

The winner of the Indian Wells final will claim their first title of 2026 and continue their push for the world No. 1 ranking.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated rematch between the top two players in women's tennis showcases the growing rivalry between Sabalenka and Rybakina, with Rybakina looking to continue her dominance in finals against the world No. 1.