Aryna Sabalenka completely dominated Madison Keys to reach the 2025 Indian Wells Open final, expressing her eagerness for victory after the match.
Sabalenka suffered a defeat against Keys in the Australian Open final this year. The Belarusian player had previously won the opening Grand Slam of the season in 2023 and 2024, aiming for a rare three-peat.
Keys triumphed over her with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to claim her first major title. After winning in Adelaide, she rode a 16-match winning streak into her clash with the reigning World No. 1.
However, Sabalenka ended that streak in an incredibly commanding fashion, defeating Keys 6-0, 6-1. At one point leading 6-0, 5-0, it appeared she could achieve a double-bagel.
Post-match, Sabalenka reflected on her remarkable win over Keys, stating her intention to avenge her earlier Australian Open loss.
“Well, I needed this revenge badly, so I was really focused, and I think tactically I played really great tennis. I would say that today was a bit the opposite. I played great at the beginning, and she kind of lost her rhythm, and she couldn’t play her best tennis.”
“I think that’s why the match went so fast. So, in Australia, I played really badly, and she played great. It’s just tennis (smiling). Let’s just call it tennis.”
The two-time Australian Open champion was further asked about her desire to avenge the loss. She clarified that while she wasn’t desperate, she was hungry for victory.
“It’s not like I was really desperate. I was more… I don’t know how to call it. I was hungry, and as I said before, that Australian Open match was really heartbreaking for me, and I really needed some time to recover after that.”
“And if I would lose today again, it would get in my head and I didn’t want that to happen. I was really focused, so I was just really hungry to get this win against Madison.”
In the final, Sabalenka will face 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who stunned Iga Swiatek in the other semi-final. Ahead of their match, she remarked on the age difference, saying it makes her feel old.
“It’s just so awkward for me to think that I’m 26 and 27 this year, and she’s 17 and is, like, just two years older than my sister. I look at my sister as a kid. I remember her being this little baby. So I look at Mirra and think, ‘Oh my God, I’m so old.’ That’s just crazy.”
