Aryna Sabalenka Stays Positive After Indian Wells Final Loss to Mirra Andreeva
Despite falling short in the Indian Wells final, Aryna Sabalenka is choosing to focus on the positives as she shifts her attention to the Miami Open. The World No. 1 started strong in the championship match but couldn’t hold off Mirra Andreeva’s comeback, ultimately losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 as the 16-year-old secured her second consecutive WTA 1000 title.
This defeat marked Sabalenka’s second loss in the Indian Wells final, having previously fallen to Elena Rybakina in 2023. It also signified her second runner-up finish this season, following a heartbreaking defeat to Madison Keys at the Australian Open.
However, the three-time Grand Slam champion remains optimistic about her level of play throughout the tournament. She dominated her early matches, including a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Liudmila Samsonova and a 6-0, 6-1 thrashing of Madison Keys, gaining revenge for her Melbourne loss earlier this year.
Reflecting on her performance, Sabalenka acknowledged both the positives and areas for improvement. “I took a lot from Indian Wells. I played great tennis up until the final,” she said. “In the final, a few things didn’t go as planned. I’ll work on that and make sure I play a bit better in Miami.”
Despite leaving without the title, Sabalenka remains fond of the Tennis Paradise atmosphere. “I had an amazing time there. Every day felt like heaven. It was tough to leave without that beautiful trophy, but it’s okay. I’ll come back stronger, and hopefully, one day, I’ll bring it home,” she shared. She also took a moment to praise Andreeva’s performance.
Now, Sabalenka is shifting her focus to the Miami Open, where she’ll make her tournament debut against Viktoriya Tomova on Thursday. Tomova advanced to the second round after defeating Caty McNally in three sets.
For now, Sabalenka remains firmly in control of the World No. 1 ranking, maintaining a lead of over 2,000 points over Iga Swiatek. With Swiatek having few points to gain during the upcoming clay season, Sabalenka is guaranteed to hold the top spot at least until the end of April.
