Uzbekistan’s Elena Rybakina proved to be decisive over ninth-ranked Elina Svitolina in the semi-final match of the Indian Wells 2026. Earlier in the quarterfinals, Svitolina had defeated two-time champion Iga Swiatek by three-sets. Meanwhile, two-time Grand Slam champion Rybakina won in a close-contested semi-finals match against Ukraine’s Svitolina defeating her by sets of 7-5, 6-4.
With the win, Rybakina has now set her spot into the finals match where will face World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. This will be her second meet with the Belarusian after defeating her in the Australian Open 2026.
In the first set, Rybakina secured an early break taking the control along with a break for a 6-5 lead. The Uzbekistani started to pressurize Svitolina during her serve which ended in the Ukrainian ending with mistakes.
After going down at 4-5, Rybakina won seven straight games to win the first set by 7-5 followed by her break-in into Svitolina’s serve twice to get a 4-0 lead in the second set. Svitolina managed to save two match points on her own serve, to take the lead by 5-3 after winning three straight games.
Meanwhile, making no mistake, Rybakina served for the second time in the match and claimed her win. This was her 12th win over top-10 ranked players.
Earlier in the day, four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka edged past 14th-seed Linda Noskova to defeat her in the other semi-finals match by sets of 6-3, 6-4. This will be her final appearance in the California desert.
In their head-to-head career record, Rybakina currently trails over Sabalenka by 8-7. The Uzbekistani won their last two meetings, including the 2025 WTA Finals and the 2026 Australian Open. At the Australian Open, Rybakina claimed her second Grand Slam crown.
Rybakina, the 2023 Indian Wells champion faced a hard-fought battle over 43rd-ranked Hailey Baptiste. She defeated the American by sets of 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 6-2. The third-seed broke twice in the second set and a 3-1 lead in the third game.
On Monday, March 16, Uzbekistan’s Rybakina is set to rise to No. 2 in the world rankings after proving to be a dominant force this season.
