Mirra Andreeva claimed her second WTA 1000 title of the year after defeating Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in Sunday's Indian Wells final. Andreeva's success is particularly impressive, as she managed to defeat the two highest-ranked players in the world consecutively in the semifinals and final.

Road to the Final

Friday's semifinals promised to be a thrilling showdown, with the four best players of the season competing for a place in the final. Andreeva faced Iga Swiatek in a match filled with the anticipation of a rematch after the teenager's upset over the Pole during her victorious run in Dubai. Despite both players arriving in strong form, the match was ultimately disappointing in terms of quality, largely due to challenging weather conditions. The main stadium at Indian Wells Tennis Garden was plagued by significant gusts of wind, making for a scrappy contest, especially from the start of the second set.

The first set saw just two breaks and was decided in a tiebreak, which Andreeva dominated 7-1. However, her level dipped in the second set, allowing Swiatek to regain her rhythm and force a decider with a 6-1 scoreline. The third set was marked by fluctuations, with Swiatek struggling mentally and becoming increasingly erratic. Ultimately, Andreeva secured her second consecutive upset over the reigning champion, though this victory was not as shocking as the one in Dubai last month.

In the other semifinal, Aryna Sabalenka avenged her Australian Open final loss to Madison Keys in dominant fashion. The world number one was relentless, barely giving Keys a chance. She nearly completed a double bagel, with Keys managing to win just one game while trailing 0-6, 0-5. Sabalenka posted remarkable statistics, winning over 70% of points on both her first and second serves, while also displaying powerful, aggressive returning that left Keys unable to mount any real challenge.

The Final

First Set: A Strong Start for Sabalenka

As expected, Sabalenka began the final in commanding fashion, continuing her dominant form in Indian Wells. She played with composure, defended well in rallies, and remained clutch under pressure. She successfully navigated tense service games and converted her chances efficiently, appearing to be on a straightforward path to the title. With a 6-2 first-set win, she seemed poised to complete the tournament without dropping a set.

Second Set: Momentum Shift

However, things took a sudden turn at the start of the second set. Sabalenka began to struggle with her serve, unable to withstand the growing pressure from Andreeva. Her confidence wavered, and although she had opportunities to recover from a break down, the Russian teenager proved highly effective in key moments. Andreeva capitalized on Sabalenka's inconsistencies, taking the second set 6-4 and forcing a decider.

Third Set: Andreeva Seizes Control

While Andreeva successfully adjusted her strategy after a tough opening set, Sabalenka was unable to regroup in the decisive third set. Her serving woes deepened, allowing Andreeva to quickly gain a break advantage. The Belarusian attempted to rediscover her aggressive, dominant style on return, but Andreeva's serving consistency made it a difficult task. As the set progressed, Sabalenka grew visibly frustrated, struggling to impose her game.

Andreeva, on the other hand, remained composed and showed no signs of relinquishing her lead. In the final two games, Sabalenka looked resigned, and a series of uncharacteristic errors—partly forced by Andreeva's solid performance—sealed her fate. The match concluded with another break, handing Andreeva a stunning victory.

Ranking Movements

Andreeva continues her rapid ascent, reaching a new career-high ranking of world No. 6. Meanwhile, the other three semifinalists maintain their current positions in the rankings, which will be updated after two weeks of competition at Indian Wells.

Madison Keys currently leads the 2025 WTA Race, holding a 400-point advantage over Sabalenka and Andreeva, with Swiatek trailing by 800 points. These four players have significantly distanced themselves from the rest of the pack, each amassing over 2,000 points so far this season.

Further down the rankings, Belinda Bencic continues her upward trajectory, climbing to world No. 45 following her quarterfinal run. Still underrated based on her strong form this year, Bencic poses a serious threat to seeded players in upcoming tournaments. She currently ranks 10th in the WTA Race and is expected to continue her climb.

A remarkable rise also comes from Sonay Kartal, the sensational lucky loser who reached the round of 16 after initially being eliminated in the qualifiers. She jumps 20 spots to a career-high ranking of world No. 63.

On the other hand, Maria Sakkari suffers a major setback, falling out of the top 50 for the first time since April 2019. The Greek player loses most of the points she earned from last year's runner-up finish and now sits at world No. 51, continuing a concerning slide down the rankings.