Tennis-Rybakina beats Sabalenka to claim Indian Wells title

FILE PHOTO: Mar 17, 2023; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Elena Rybakina (KAZ) reacts after match point as she defeated Iga Swiatek (POL) in the semi finals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) -Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina beat a misfiring Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(11) 6-4 on Sunday to claim the Indian Wells title and avenge her loss to the Belarusian in the Australian Open final.

Rybakina, playing in her first WTA 1000 final, saved three set points in the opening frame and was never really tested in the second where she cruised to a victory that will send her to a career-high seventh in the rankings.