World number one Aryna Sabalenka put on a dominating display to beat Madison Keys 6-0, 6-1 and advance to the Indian Wells WTA 1000 final on Friday. The win provided Sabalenka with revenge against Keys, whom she lost to in the Australian Open final earlier this year.
The Belarusian, keen to get the records straight, took only 51 minutes to send fifth-seeded American packing. She will next face Russian teen Mirra Andreeva in the final following the 16-year-old upsetting defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Aryna Sabalenka Seeks Revenge, Overpowers Keys
Aryna Sabalenka signaled her intentions from the very first ball, blasting through the first set in 23 minutes. “I was out for revenge,” she conceded, referring to her Australian Open defeat by Keys, which had ended her chances of a third successive title in Melbourne.”
Keys entered the match on a 16-match winning streak, including her victory in Adelaide and a career-defining first Grand Slam title in Melbourne. She was unable to get into rhythm against relentless Sabalenka, who took the first 11 games of the match.
Despite the chill and gusty winds on Stadium Court, Aryna Sabalenka was not ruffled. Keys eventually held serve at 5-1 in the second set, pumping her arms towards her coaching box, where her husband and coach, Bjorn Fratangelo, sat. But in a matter of minutes, Aryna Sabalenka sealed the victory to reach the final.
Second Indian Wells Final for Sabalenka
This is Sabalenka’s second Indian Wells final appearance. She last made it to the title match in 2023 but lost to runner-up Elena Rybakina. This time around, she will look to take one step higher and win the coveted WTA 1000 title.
Her rival, Mirra Andreeva, has enjoyed a fairy-tale run in the tournament, displaying great grit against big-name players. The Russian teen’s win over world number one Swiatek has set the stage for an interesting final encounter.
Sabalenka will come into the match as the favourite, with her experience and dominating game, but Andreeva’s aggressive attitude could make for an interesting contest.
