World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Czech Linda Noskova, ranked 14th, 6-3 and 6-4 on Friday to advance to her third career final at the WTA 1.000 in Indian Wells. Sabalenka will face the winner of the match between American Jessica Pegula and Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in Sunday's final; Rybakina denied her a title at this year's Australian Open. For Sabalenka, it was her 16th victory of the season, all of which came in straight sets—a feat no woman on the tour had achieved since Johanna Larsson in 2015. The Belarusian will get another chance to lift the Indian Wells trophy, after Russian Mirra Andreeva in 2025 and Rybakina in 2023 denied her victory in the final. Sabalenka will be vying for what would be her 10th WTA 1.000 title, which would allow her to continue pressuring Serena Williams (13) for the record for most wins in this category of tournaments. Sabalenka still has 11 WTA 1.000 titles from Iga Swiatek and 10 from Belarusian Victoria Azarenka ahead of her. The Belarusian comfortably handled her semifinal in one hour and 28 minutes against a Noskova she had already beaten in their only previous encounter, in Adelaide in 2023. She imposed her greater experience from the outset and took a 5-1 lead in minutes, paving the way for the first set. Despite that, the Czech deserves credit for fighting to the end, despite having to defend three more break points. Ultimately, Sabalenka validated her initial break with her powerful serve and sealed her passage to the final with a powerful right-hand crosscourt for the decisive 6-4.
