Indian Wells LIVE: Sinner downs Medvedev for first title after Sabalenka beats Rybakina in epic

[p][b]00:21 CET - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] has won Indian Wells for the very first time, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=YLRahW8l"]beating Daniil Medvedev 7-6, 7-6[/a] in a tight contest lasting just under two hours in searing desert heat![/b][/p][embed guid="52948acb-a53a-4ab5-94d7-6eb27e6fa8bd" url="https://x.com/BNPPARIBASOPEN/status/2033325897839992983" social-type="twitter" /][p]It couldn’t have been closer, with both sets going to tiebreaks and no break points won. What's more, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Medvedev[/a] played a good game to continue his fine form in California. However, Sinner was just too strong in the clutch moments, firing down 10 aces on his way to the win.[/p][p]Sinner went through the entire tournament without dropping a set and becomes the youngest player to win all of the major hard-court tournaments (Grand Slams and Masters 1000s) with this title, his first of the 2026 season. Another astonishing achievement for the 24-year-old Italian![/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="4007d333-c7e5-4159-88b9-17b57568bf95" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="b8ead4a3-e629-410e-bb53-78947e7ed22d" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]23:27 CET - [/b]What an opening set! Sinner has edged it 7-6 (6) after one hour and three minutes, in which there was absolutely nothing to choose between the two.[/p][p]Neither player dropped their serve on the way to the tiebreak, and neither player dropped a point on serve in it until Medvedev finally blinked at 6-6.[/p][p]The Russian is playing the bold, brave tennis that saw him beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Alcaraz[/a], but Sinner is producing some top shots of his own in response.[/p][p]We may have our second epic final of the day on our hands.[/p][embed guid="71083ae2-408f-4315-b627-2b626e2a584b" url="https://x.com/BNPPARIBASOPEN/status/2033308894819463259" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]22:29 CET - [/b]Our attention now turns to the men's final between Sinner and Medvedev, which has just gotten underway.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=YLRahW8l"]Follow every point of it here.[/a][/b][/p][p][b]21:55 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Rybakina[/a] can be very happy with how she played today. She hit more aces, got more of her first serves in, forced more break points and won more points in total.[/p][p]This loss will sting, but it was further proof of the big step forward she has taken this year.[/p][p]That's not to say that Sabalenka doesn't deserve this win, though; she played some top tennis and really stepped up in the key moments.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="0582837a-f8bf-473a-bfba-5831b8bac0e4" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="5606a122-73e4-451a-8520-cf4e5f8db2f0" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]21:36 CET - [/b]Aryna Sabalenka is the Indian Wells champion! The world number one has finally won the tournament for the first time, having lost two finals in the past, by winning an absolutely epic final set against Rybakina![/p][p]She was serving for the match at 5-4, but her opponent broke her serve and then fought off five break points in the next game. As a result, the final went to a deciding tiebreak, in which Rybakina led 5-3 and had championship point at 6-5, but Sabalenka hit a stunning backhand to save it and then came back to claim the title herself.[/p][p]After two hours and 34 minutes, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/rybakina-e-UDzElXdm/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=rVLW9tkS"]it ends 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6)[/a]. What a final![/p][embed guid="f000d820-2552-4745-b68a-124e0ef948a4" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2033287146988048387" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]20:27 CET - It's all even now in the women's final, and we're going to a deciding set![/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] has roared back in California, winning the second set 6-3 after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] won the first by the same scoreline. It couldn't be closer out there.[/p][p]After conceding four aces in the opening set, Sabalenka came back strong in the second with four of her own to flip the script.[/p][embed guid="c5d38070-152f-4070-bcb7-6cbe6257fe2d" url="https://x.com/BNPPARIBASOPEN/status/2033264251566199258" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]19:50 CET - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] is halfway to her second Indian Wells title![/b][/p][p]The Kazakh converted the only break point in a tight opening set to take it [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/rybakina-e-UDzElXdm/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=rVLW9tkS"]6-3[/a], as she won a remarkable 82% of points behind her second serve.[/p][p]Can [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Sabalenka[/a] mount a response, or will Rybakina claim a 13th career title?[/p][embed guid="03bc12be-f197-42ac-8722-0876b1ea6efc" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2033252827150029298" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]19:09 CET -[/b] The women's final is now underway, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] battle it out for the Indian Wells title. [/p][p][b]You can follow every point of the match via the link at the top of the page![/b][/p][embed guid="9b16bb64-58f7-499d-910e-af90ca242384" url="https://x.com/BNPPARIBASOPEN/status/2033247760045215908" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]18:34 CET -[/b] With just 30 minutes to go until the women's showpiece event in California, let's take a closer look at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a]'s respective paths to the final. [/p][p]Top seed Sabalenka is yet to drop a set in the tournament, with the Belarusian playing some of her best tennis to see off rising stars [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/noskova-linda/zHMiAkw6/"]Linda Noskova[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mboko-victoria/AqVez8TJ/"]Victoria Mboko[/a], as well as four-time major champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]Naomi Osaka[/a].[/p][p]As for Rybakina, the Kazakh has been pushed a little harder through the rounds, but her last two performances against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pegula-jessica/KdojxrAR/"]Jessica Pegula[/a] have been mightily impressive.[/p][embed guid="c011d8e9-55a8-4dc9-9a87-ce23923af744" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2033226748670693514" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]16:10 CET - [/b]Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of today's finals at Indian Wells![/p][p]First up, at [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/rybakina-e-UDzElXdm/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=rVLW9tkS"]19:00 CET[/a][/b], is the women's showpiece, as world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] takes on Australian Open champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] in the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/tennis-indian-wells-wta-singles-sabalenka-vs-rybakina-a-rivalry-that-s-beginning-to-shape-the-wta-tour/jNAhFcjJ/"]latest instalment of their enthralling rivalry[/a].[/p][p]The Kazakh came out on top in their last meeting in Melbourne, so Sabalenka will be desperate to avenge that defeat and claim a 10th career WTA 1000 title.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/sabalenka-seeking-revenge-against-rybakina-in-indian-wells-final/d26VhQw3/"]Read an in-depth preview of the final here[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Sabalenka vs Rybakina recent meetings" id="4163ebf7-330d-4bc6-bf39-fbb9ddb2caa3" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="07d63c8d-e413-4cd5-9d95-1f39a37378a8" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Later on, at [b]22:00 CET[/b], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a] face off in the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=YLRahW8l"]men's final[/a], with both former world number ones targeting a maiden crown at Indian Wells.[/p][p]Sinner is the favourite heading into the contest, with the Italian yet to drop a set in the tournament, sweeping aside the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tien-learner/xUHOBJK6/"]Learner Tien[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Joao Fonseca[/a].[/p][p]However, Medvedev is in phenomenal form himself, and the Russian will be determined to follow up his [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/alcaraz-garfia-c-UkhgIFEq/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/?mid=AXTmu2E7"]superb straight-set victory[/a] over top seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos Alcaraz[/a] in the semi-finals.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/tennis-indian-wells-atp-singles-new-king-of-indian-wells-assured-as-medvedev-seeks-sinner-scalp-after-alcaraz-upset/Cr8ccU6L/"]Read an in-depth preview of the final here[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Medvedev vs Sinner recent meetings" id="490c53c3-e514-467e-846a-14ae43667798" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="acadaa88-d818-4069-b506-06a076ed6357" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /]