Sabalenka Reaches Indian Wells Final for Third Time in Four Years

The world No. 1 defeats Linda Noskova in straight sets to advance to the championship match.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:49am

Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked women's tennis player, has reached the final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells for the third time in the last four years. Sabalenka defeated 14th-seeded Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals, firing 11 aces and winning 38 of her 58 first serve points. The Belarusian will face either Elena Rybakina or Elina Svitolina in the championship match on Sunday.

Why it matters

Sabalenka's consistent success at Indian Wells, one of the premier events on the WTA Tour, solidifies her status as one of the dominant players in women's tennis. Reaching the final for the third time in four years demonstrates her ability to perform at the highest level on the big stage.

The details

Sabalenka dispatched Noskova in 1 hour and 28 minutes, winning 65% of her first serve points and notching 11 aces. The Belarusian has now reached the semifinals in six consecutive WTA Tour events, with her last loss before that round coming against Rybakina in the Cincinnati quarterfinals last August.

  • Sabalenka reached the Indian Wells final on March 13, 2026.

The players

Aryna Sabalenka

The world No. 1 women's tennis player from Belarus, who is a two-time runner-up at the Indian Wells tournament.

Linda Noskova

A 14th-seeded Czech tennis player who lost to Sabalenka in the Indian Wells semifinals.

Elena Rybakina

A top women's tennis player who defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier this year.

Elina Svitolina

A professional tennis player who will face the winner of Sabalenka and Rybakina in the Indian Wells final.

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What’s next

Sabalenka will face either Elena Rybakina or Elina Svitolina in the Indian Wells final on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

Aryna Sabalenka's consistent success at the Indian Wells tournament, reaching the final for the third time in four years, solidifies her status as one of the dominant players in women's tennis and a favorite to win her first career title at this prestigious event.