INDIAN WELLS.- After years of failed attempts, the Italian Jannik Sinner and the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka this Sunday they appropriated their first titles in the prestigious tournament of Indian Wells (USA).
Sabalenka, the head of women’s tennis, made a spectacular comeback against the Kazakh Elena Rybakina in the final of WTA 1000culminated in the final “tie break” by 3-6, 6-3 and 7-6 (8/6).
In the final of the men’s Masters 1000, Sinner prevailed 7-6 (8/6) and 7-6 (7/4) in an intense duel against the Russian Daniil Medvedevwhich did not record a single “break”.
At the age of 24, the world number two thus completed a plethora of trophies in the six hard-court Masters 1000, a collection that only Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
folded by Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of 2023 and 2024, Sinner did not compete last year in Indian Wells when he was suspended for a double positive for clostebol.
Upon his return, he imposed his authority in the tournament in the Californian desert, in which he did not give up a set.
With a previous triumph in Paris in November, the Italian is the first player to win two Masters 1000 tournaments in a row without dropping a set.
The former number one was in great need of success at this level after starting the year with unexpected setbacks in the semifinals of the Australian OpenGrand Slam of which he was two-time champion, and in the quarterfinals of Doha ATP 500.
“It feels great. It’s a great achievement,” Sinner congratulated himself, his eyes already on the Miami Masters 1000which starts on Wednesday.
Medvedev’s third defeat
For Medvedev, on the other hand, it was his third lost final in the Californian desert, after the defeats against Alcaraz in 2023 and 2024.
The 30-year-old Russian has recovered his best level, but, with revenge against Alcaraz in the semifinals, the other giant of the circuit awaited him in the final.
The duel fulfilled the predictions of maximum equality and Sinner was the only one who had two break opportunities in the first set.
Medvedev neutralized them, but his own error marked a turn in the tie break. With a 5-4 lead, the Russian missed a crosscourt backhand that he thought was long and that became a tie for Sinner, who then took over the set.
The second set also led to the tiebreaker, which Medvedev seemed to have in the bag when he took a 4/0 lead.
But Sinner did not give up and was able to chain seven consecutive points until claiming victory, looking at his team and pointing his finger at his heart.
“It was an incredible finish. I kept believing and kept pushing,” said the Italian.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Medvedev acknowledged.
“Beating Carlos yesterday feels like winning the tournament, especially for me. I lost to him many times. But that’s not the reality. There was still a final to play and I had my chance,” added the Russian.
Third time the charm
After two lost finals, Sabalenka finally celebrated in Indian Wells, in a victory against Rybakina with a lot of revenge flavor and in which she resisted a championship shot.
The 27-year-old Belarusian was looking forward to the Kazakh after her defeats in the finals of Indian Wells in 2023 and the Australian Open last January.
Protagonist of great disappointments in finals, the Belarusian managed to contain her emotions this time and rebel against the ice tennis of Rybakina, who is guaranteed to rise to second place in the WTA.
Sabalenka was under the greatest pressure, not only for reigning for the first time in the Coachella Valley, after her 2023 loss and last year’s loss to Mirra Andreevabut to ratify his authority in the circuit.
The two and a half hours of battle under a powerful sun culminated with Sabalenka’s first success in Indian Wells, in an edition that began with her engagement to her partner, the Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis.
“What a week: having a puppy, getting engaged and winning the title. I will certainly remember it for the rest of my life,” said the radiant champion, lifting the 23rd title of her career and the tenth in the WTA 1000 category.
