Sabalenka powers into Indian Wells final to set up blockbuster rematch with Rybakina

Sabalenka overcame the 14th-ranked Czech 6-3, 6-4, while Rybakina secured her spot in the title match with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Ukraine's Elina Svitolina. The result sets up another high-profile meeting between Sabalenka and Rybakina following their final in Melbourne earlier this year.

Sabalenka has looked dominant throughout this year's tournament in the California desert. Against Noskova she struck 37 winners, including 11 aces, repeatedly applying pressure from the baseline.

"I think I really played great tennis," Sabalenka said. "I was serving well. I was playing well. I like the way I put her under pressure on her serve."

She surged ahead early, breaking Noskova's powerful serve twice to build a 5-1 advantage in the opening set. There was a brief wobble when Sabalenka attempted to serve it out and was broken despite having dropped just a single point across her first three service games.

Noskova prolonged the set with a determined hold in a lengthy eighth game, saving a set point with a service winner before closing the game with an ace.

When Sabalenka served for the set again she began shakily with a double fault and quickly fell 0-30 behind. However, two strong serves followed by a backhand winner earned her another set point, which she converted with an ace.

The world number two then broke immediately at the start of the second set to take control. Noskova managed to fend off another break chance later, but she could not capitalise on her own opportunity in the eighth game. Sabalenka eventually sealed the win with a forehand winner on her third match point.

Earlier, Rybakina's power proved decisive against ninth-seeded Svitolina, who had reached the semi-final after eliminating two-time champion Iga Swiatek in three sets.

After conceding an early break in the first set, Rybakina responded and eventually edged ahead by breaking for 6-5 as consistent pressure forced errors from the Ukrainian.

From 4-5 down in the opener, Rybakina reeled off seven consecutive games, breaking Svitolina twice to move 4-0 ahead in the second set.

Svitolina refused to fade quietly, saving one match point on her own serve and another before pulling back a break to narrow the gap to 5-3 after winning three straight games.

Rybakina, however, closed it out when serving for the match a second time, extending her streak to 12 consecutive victories against top-10 opponents.

Although Sabalenka leads their head-to-head record 8-7, Rybakina has won their last two encounters - in the final of the WTA Finals and again at the Australian Open, where she secured her second Grand Slam title.

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