INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (11), 6-4 on Sunday to win the BNP Paribas Open and give the world number two player just her second loss. this year.
Rybakina carried the momentum of her straight-set semifinal win over top-ranked Iga Swiatek to the final and beat Sabalenka for the first time in five career meetings.
For the first time in their fledgling rivalry, the match did not go to three sets. Sabalenka went the distance to beat Rybakina in the Australian Open final in January. In that match, Sabalenka fired 17 aces and rallied from a set down to win her first Grand Slam title.
This time Rybakina hit seven aces and Sabalenka hit 10 double faults.
Rybakina improved her match record to 16-4 this year; Sabalenka dropped to 17-2.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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