Aryna Sabalenka is ‘excited’ for her rematch with Elena Rybakina as the the two will meet in the Indian Wells final.
The world number one booked her place in the final after a 6-3 6-4 win over Linda Noskova in the semi-finals.
Speaking after the match Sabalenka spoke about her performance and after losing recent big finals Sabalenka is ready to put that record right, “Yeah, super happy with my performance. I think I really played great tennis,” Sabalenka explained in the press conference.
“I was serving well. I was playing well. I like the way I put her under pressure on her serve, and of course happy to close this match in straight sets. I just want to focus, if I make it to the final, I want to make sure that I get it, I get the trophy. You know, I’m so done of 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.
“And right now my mentality, if I make it to the final, I’ll go out there and, you know, I’ll do everything I can and everything I cannot to get that trophy.”
It will be Elena Rybakina who awaits Sabalenka in the final after the Kazakh defeated Elina Svitolina 7-5 6-4.
The match is a rematch from the 2023 Indian Wells final and the Australian Open final which Rybakina won both meetings.
Sabalenka is ‘excited’ for the challenge that awaits her on Sunday, “You know, the thing is I don’t
remember anything,” Sabalenka said of the 2023 final.
“You know, like, I feel like against Elena, it’s always super-aggressive, it’s all about the first few balls in every point. You know, if you dominate in those two points, I feel like most likely you’re gonna win the point. It’s very aggressive, very fast tennis. Yeah, if it’s her, I’m excited, actually.”
Heading into the contest Rybakina has a good record against the world number one in finals which is a massive stat heading into the match.
It’s a stat that surprised Rybakina as she is expecting a difficult contest on Sunday, “But, well, as I always say, every day is different, every tournament is different, and you can play well one day and then the other day wake up and not feel the greatest. So I feel like you need to always try to find a way,” Rybakina suggested.
“We know each other’s game very well. It’s a lot about physical, I would say also, because here, the ball is heavy, the rallies a little bit longer than on the other hard courts, which are a little bit quicker. It’s gonna be difficult match where we both gonna try to serve well, that’s for sure, put pressure, and, I mean, we will see what’s gonna happen.
“It was tough matches, any match I play against Aryna, and I have been serving well. I remember that match, but again, we played so many times, and I think it all depends in these moments, close moments, which we usually have for whoever steps in, plays more aggressive, more solid. So, yeah, it’s gonna be a very difficult match.”
