Aryna Sabalenka says she's tired of losing to Elena Rybakina ahead of Indian Wells final: “I’ll do everything I can to get that trophy”

Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has spoken ahead of Sunday's Indian Wells Open final against Elena Rybakina, and she is making no secret of how badly she wants this one. The World No. 1 has had a brilliant season so far, but final defeats have been a recurring theme, and it has clearly got to her. She is done being gracious about it. This final means more than most.

Aryna Sabalenka has a score to settle with Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open earlier this year and Sunday is a chance to settle the score. Sabalenka has lost four consecutive finals to Rybakina, including at this same tournament in 2023 and at the WTA Finals. She leads their overall head-to-head eight wins to seven across 15 matches since 2019, but when the biggest moments have arrived, Rybakina has come out on top.
It is not just Rybakina either. Sabalenka also lost back-to-back finals at the Australian Open and the 2025 French Open, where Coco Gauff beat her. That is a lot of near misses to carry into a title match.
She did not hold back when asked about it. Straightforward and honest, Sabalenka said exactly what was on her mind. "I'm so done with losing these big finals. It felt like even though players were playing incredible tennis in those finals, I had so many opportunities that I didn't use. And right now my mentality, if I make it to the final, is that I'll go out there and do everything I can to get that trophy," she said.
Sabalenka's form at Indian Wells has been impressive. She has not dropped a set all tournament, seeing off Himeno Sakatsume, Jaqueline Cristian, Naomi Osaka, Victoria Mboko and Linda Noskova to reach the final. She comes into Sunday with a 16-1 record for 2026, her only loss this year coming against Rybakina in Melbourne. Sabalenka is playing her third Indian Wells final in four years, a run that speaks to just how consistently she has performed at this tournament. She has also made history simply by getting here, becoming the first woman to reach consecutive Indian Wells finals as World No. 1 since the event launched in 1989. For now, the stage is set and the trophy is what she is after. Will she win this one? Only time will tell.



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