By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, March 16, 2025
Photo credit: Tony Chang/Chang Photography
Aryna Sabalenka had just one thought bouncing around in her mind after a thrilling three-set defeat to Mirra Andreeva in the Indian Wells final—she wanted a rematch.
“I’m ready for another go,” Sabalenka admitted with a grin, reflecting on her 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 loss. “Maybe she caught me off guard this time, but she can savor her win while it lasts,” she joked. “Just kidding, of course! But next time, I’ll be even more prepared and won’t repeat today’s mistakes.”
This was their third encounter this season, and Sabalenka had managed to keep her serve intact against Andreeva until early into the second set. However, the young 17-year-old Andreeva showcased her sharpness and adaptability, outplaying Sabalenka with a brilliant mix of defensive and offensive play. She landed 29 winners to Sabalenka’s 24 and served up six aces compared to just one from Sabalenka. Importantly, Andreeva broke Sabalenka’s serve three times in the crucial final set.
For Sabalenka, this marked another tough three-set final defeat this year. The current US Open champ also fell short in a nail-biting Australian Open final against Madison Keys. Nevertheless, Sabalenka had been in top form, having demolished Keys with an 11-game streak in a 6-0, 6-1 semifinal win at Indian Wells.
Despite losing the first set, Andreeva’s frustrations were clear when she lobbed a ball into the stands and let loose on her team, which included her mom and coach, Conchita Martinez, a Wimbledon champ herself. Ironically, these outbursts seemed to calm her down.
Reflecting on her own performance, Sabalenka acknowledged she needed better emotional control, particularly during the final set. “I was really upset with myself,” Sabalenka shared after the match. “I should’ve redirected that anger into my game instead of letting it get to me.”
Sabalenka noted that Andreeva’s strategy didn’t catch her off guard; it was more about managing her own emotions and handling her frustration more effectively.
