Elena Rybakina vs Aryna Sabalenka Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Indian Wells

Prediction published on 18/03/2023, 07:33  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/03/2023 at 08:00 in Tennis Predictions

Second seeded Aryna Sabalenka takes on the tenth seed Elena Rybakina in the Indian Wells final. It's a repeat of this year's Australian Open final that saw Sabalenka come out on top. That was her first Grand Slam title and now the Belarusian attempts to win her first Indian Wells title. Sabalenka will remain second in the word rankings, still nearly 3000 points behind Iga Swiatek. However, the 24-year-old can extend her lead at the top of the WTA Race if winning her third title of the year. Sabalenka has made it to this final with just one set lost. That was in the fourth round when losing the middle set to 16th seeded Barbora Krejcikova who is the only player to beat her this year in 19 matches. The world number two has been getting stronger as the tournament has progressed. Her last two matches against Coco Gauff and Maria Sakkari have seen her lose just nine games. 

Elena Rybakina beat Iga Swiatek in her semi-final. That was her second win over the world number one this year, having also beaten her in the Australian Open. Rybakina began this Indian Wells tournament ranked tenth in the world. That was a career high but reaching this final has taken her up to eighth place in the live rankings. A win over Sabalenka will see her climb to seventh and strengthen her second position in the WTA Race. Rybakina has also lost just the one set on her way to this final. That was in her quarter final against unseeded Karolina Muchova. That was followed by beating the top seed for the loss of only four games. To win this title though, Rybakina must beat Sabalenka for the first time. All the previous four meetings have been won by Sabalenka, though all of them went to a final set. This could be another tight match but it's Sabalenka who can get a fifth win over Rybakina.