Aryna Sabalenka in action.© AFP
World number, Aryna Sabalenka overwhelmed Madison Keys 6-0, 6-1 to reach the Indian final of the Wells WTA 1000 Friday, avenging her defeat against the Fifth American classified in the Australian Open final. Sabalenka only needed 51 minutes to set up a title confrontation with Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who defeated the title champion IGA Swiatek 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-3. The Belarus admitted that she had come after Keys refused her a third consecutive Australian crown and that she was composed of the first ball, roaring in the first set in 23 minutes.
Keys led a sequence of 16 consecutive victories which included a victory in Adelaide before his first major in Melbourne, but the fifth American could not have a foot in the door.
Sabalenka was not disturbed by the cold wind and swirling on the stadium field, winning the first 11 games before the erroneous keys held 5-1 in the second.
The American raised her arms to her box, where her husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo was trying to offer support, but a few minutes later, Sabalenka had sealed the victory.
Sabalenka is in the Indian Wells final for the second time. She was a finalist at Elena Rybakina in 2023.
(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)
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