Aryna Sabalenka claimed her first Indian Wells title after a grueling three-set battle against Elena Rybakina that lasted over two and a half hours in scorching California heat. The world No 1 fought back from a set down, saving a match point in the final set tie-break to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6). The victory marked a career milestone for Sabalenka.

Rybakina, the world No 3, entered the final with a 4-1 head-to-head advantage in finals against Sabalenka. The Kazakh player dominated the first set 6-3 with aggressive baseline play, breaking Sabalenka early in the second set. However, the Belarusian rallied to win the second set 6-3, setting up a dramatic third set where both players traded momentum before the tie-break decided the champion.

Following the match, Sky Sports pundit Tim Henman called it "one of the best matches I've seen for a few years," praising both players' mental and physical resilience in extreme conditions. Sabalenka celebrated by flashing her engagement ring to the crowd and introducing her new puppy on court, capping off a week that included both personal and professional milestones.