Olena Rybakina avenged her loss in the Australian Open final and defeated Aryna Sabalenko in the final act of the WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells. During the award ceremony, the athlete from Belarus tried to be positive and offered a funny moment.

Olena Rybakina vs Arina SabalenkoPhoto: James Gourley / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Aryna Sabalenko says that she will not lose to Olena Rybakinii again

While Rybakina praised Sabalenka and talked about their rivalry, Aryna came to the microphone and made the audience laugh.

“It was my first win in the final against you. I hope we will have many more finals together,” said Rybakina to her rival, at which point she was interrupted.

“This will be your last victory against me,” Sabalenka interjected.

The player from Kazakhstan won after two hours and five minutes of play, scoring a goal 7-6(11), 6-4.

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Aryna Sabalenko returned to her old self

Sabalenka led 4-2 in the first set and missed 2 set points in the tiebreak, both on serve. The Belarusian said the 10 double faults reminded her of the struggles she faced last season.

“We had a lot of opportunities in the first set but we didn’t take them, but that’s okay. I feel like this is a little reminder that I still have so much work to do.

Not every match will go my way, and I won’t serve perfectly. It’s okay when I’m not playing my best. I have to keep fighting and use the rest of my weapons.

I was extremely disappointed with my service today, I’m back to my old ways. In the first two games of the second set, I went a little overboard and thought in the wrong place.

The match will stay in my mind until tomorrow because there were so many points where I could have played better and done better, especially when I was serving for the set.

There was no pressure on me. I don’t know why I tried to serve harder. I just needed to serve her body and play with her head. I hit too hard. It’s just another lesson, and that’s okay. I have nothing against it. I will learn I will come back better” – Aryna Sabalenkoquoted by WTA Tennis.

Sabalenko and Rybakina advance directly to the second round at the Miami Open. Aryna (the 2nd favorite) will play the winner of the match between Sloane Stephens and Shelby Rogers, while Olena (10) will play the winner of the match between Anna Kalinska and Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva.

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