Sabalenka Routs Keys, Books Indian Wells Title Clash With Andreeva

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Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva, both of whom won the Australian Open title, cruised past Madison Keys on Friday, 6-0, 6-1, to claim the title in the Indian Wells.

Russian 17-year-old Andreeva defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (7/ 1), 1-6, 6-3), to become the first woman to have won three titles in the California desert. The second-ranked Pole won the matchup, becoming the first woman to do so in the desert.

After Keys denied her bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title in January, Sabalenka admitted to wanting revenge.

I really needed some time to recover from that Australian Open match because it had really broken my heart.

And I didn’t want that to happen if I lost today once more because I was afraid it would get in my head. I had a lot of energy and was just so happy to win against Madison. ”

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Madison Keys of the USA meet in the BNP Paribas Open semifinal tennis match on March 14, 2025, at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Patrick T.) AFP/Fallon

Keys couldn’t get a foot in the door as he was on a 16-game winning streak.

Sabalenka won the first 11 games without being troubled by the wind and swirling, cold conditions on Stadium Court.

Sabalenka said, “I think I played really good tennis tactically,” noting that her plan was to “just keep her out of the rhythm.”

In the second, the misfiring Keys finally held the serve at 5-1, but minutes later Sabalenka sealed the victory and lined up a shot at Andreeva, a WTA tour newest sensation, in a match that, according to Sabalenka, would be “kind of like an old mama playing against a kid.”

Andreeva defeated Swiatek in the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 championship match last month, beating the Polish star in the process.

With just one point in her first three service games, Swaiatek looked incredibly confident after winning ten straight Indian Wells matches.

However, Andreeva claimed the opening break of the tense opening tense to give the score of 5-4.

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On March 14, 2025, Iga Swiatek of Poland plays against Mirra Andreeva of Russia in a women’s singles semi-final tennis match at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Patrick T.) AFP/Fallon

Andreeva took control after Swiatek broke back and won the tiebreaker, opening with a blistering backhand winner and snatching the set when Swiatek sent a backhand wide.

She said, “It felt like I was going to go play the tiebreak like it was my last tiebreak.” So I merely fired my shots. My service was excellent. She simply said, “I felt very comfortable and assured.”

As the Russian’s errors grew worse as her opponent put her frustrations to rest and broke Andreeva in the second set, breaking her twice more.

Andreeva remarked, “The second set was a little strange. She played pretty deep and tall over the net, so I just felt like she overplayed me. With these shots, it was really challenging to do anything. ”

However, Andreeva increased her attack and broke Swiatek to start the third, and she won with her third set break.