Layout by: Paul Quijano
Published by: Christine Mae Karunungan
Date Published: March 26, 2025
Time Published: 6:42 AM
Aryna Sabalenka claimed her much anticipated revenge on Madison Keys in just 51 minutes, dominating with scores 6-0 and 6-1 at the Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Friday, March 14.
During the Australian Open, Keys dethroned Sabalenka and secured the title of the Grand Slam Champion, however during the Paribas Open, Sabalenka dominated and ended Keys’ 16 match run, securing her spot in the final round with a match with 17 year old teen prodigy Miraa Andreeva.
Sabalenka started off strong and took the lead, firing a forehand winner past Keys, taking a 3-0 advantage with just 10 minutes into the match, whereas Keys struggled to control her shots and getting them over the net.
“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,” Sabalenka said.
She was always open about showcasing her urge to get revenge, Sabalenka backed up her words with an impeccable display of determination, control, and power on Stadium 1.
“I didn’t expect this match to be that fast,” Sabalenka, the No. 1 seed said while smiling.
“I’m super happy with the way I played today, much needed revenge," she added.
A double fault from Keys handed Sabalenka a double break, putting her ahead by 4-0 during the first set, with 10 unforced errors in the first four games determining her downfall.
Longing to be the first American woman to win an Indian Wells title since Serena Williams in 2001, Keys attempted to make an effort to shift the momentum at the start of the second set but failed to shift a crucial break point in the opening game.
Two more games swiftly passed as Keys’ shoulders were sagging while the relentless top seed extended her lead to 6-0, 4-0 at the 41 minute mark—a backhand winner, fired down the line, pushed her streak of consecutive games won to 11.
She claimed her victory in the succeeding game, sealing one of her most commanding wins of her Indian Wells career.
REFERENCES:
[1]Agence France-Presse. (2025, March 15). Tennis: Sabalenka routs Keys, books Indian Wells title clash with Andreeva | ABS-CBN Sports. ABS-CBN. https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/3/15/tennis-sabalenka-routs-keys-books-indian-wells-title-clash-with-andreeva-1324
[2] Oddo, C. (2025). Women’s semifinal: Stingy sabalenka gets rapid revenge on keys. BNP Paribas Open | Indian Wells. https://bnpparibasopen.com/news/aryna-sabalenka-madison-keys-2025
[3]Sabalenka avenges australian open loss to keys to make indian wells final. (2015). Women’s Tennis Association; ATP WTA Live. https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4233515/sabalenka-avenges-australian-open-loss-to-keys-to-make-indian-wells-final
[4]Futterman, M. (2025, March 15). Aryna sabalenka dismantles madison keys at indian wells, advances to final. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6204994/2025/03/14/aryna-sabalenka-beats-madison-keys-indian-wells/?redirected=1
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