Sinner, Sabalenka Claim First Indian Wells Titles

Italian Jannik Sinner and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka win their inaugural BNP Paribas Open championships

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:14am

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Jannik Sinner defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to win his first Indian Wells title, while Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina and claim her maiden BNP Paribas Open championship.

Why it matters

The Indian Wells tournament is one of the most prestigious events on the tennis calendar, and winning the title is a major accomplishment for both Sinner and Sabalenka as they continue to establish themselves among the sport's elite.

The details

Sinner, the No. 2-ranked player in the world, defeated Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) without dropping a single set throughout the tournament. Sabalenka, the world No. 1, came back from a set down to defeat Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in a hard-fought final that came down to a tiebreaker.

  • Sinner and Sabalenka won their respective titles on Sunday, March 17, 2026.
  • Earlier on Sunday, Italian Formula One driver Kimi Antonelli won the Chinese Grand Prix.

The players

Jannik Sinner

A 24-year-old Italian tennis player who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world.

Daniil Medvedev

A 27-year-old Russian tennis player who is currently ranked No. 3 in the world.

Aryna Sabalenka

A 27-year-old Belarusian tennis player who is currently ranked No. 1 in the world.

Elena Rybakina

A 23-year-old Kazakhstani tennis player who is currently ranked No. 4 in the world.

Kimi Antonelli

A young Italian Formula One driver who won the Chinese Grand Prix on the same day as the Indian Wells finals.

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What they’re saying

“It hasn't anything to do with tennis, but it has been a special day for Italy. Because I'm a huge Formula One fan and having a very, very young Italian, Kimi, bringing Italy back home at the top, it's amazing. So, thanks, Kimi, thanks Formula One, and see you next year.”

— Jannik Sinner

“I think the whole idea going into this match was to be mentally strong, to stay strong, no matter what, to show with the body language that I'm here, I'm fighting. You have to get a win with incredible tennis and that was the whole idea going into this one. I'm happy that it really worked.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

“Probably will have a couple drinks on the plane and that's it. I'm defending champion there, so I have to bring my best tennis there. But with these vibes that I'm taking from here, I think I'll be able to be there and to fight and to do my very best to defend that beautiful trophy.”

— Aryna Sabalenka

“It was a very difficult match.”

— Elena Rybakina

What’s next

Sabalenka will head to the Miami Open, where she is the defending champion, immediately after her Indian Wells victory.

The takeaway

Sinner and Sabalenka's maiden Indian Wells titles represent a significant milestone in their respective careers, as they continue to cement their status among the top players in men's and women's tennis.