Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, showed signs of recovery from recent setbacks as she defeated American McCartney Kessler 7-6 (4), 6-3 on March 9, 2025, at the BNP Paribas Open, also known as Indian Wells. This victory marked her return to form after emotional turmoil following her loss to Madison Keys at the Australian Open final earlier this year.
After crashing out of the Australian Open, where she expressed her heartbreak by smashing her racket and sobbing on the court, Sabalenka stated, "I’d say after the final in Australia I was really heartbroken. It was very difficult to recover after... Just good experience, great lesson, and hopefully it will never happen again." These sentiments helped to outline her struggles through the Middle East Swing, where she won just one of her three matches at the Qatar Open and Dubai.
Sabalenka was back on track at Indian Wells, displaying her trademark powerful serve and impressive shot-making against Kessler. She never faced a break point throughout the match, showcasing her strong service game which included six aces and an 86% first-serve win rate. Her performance was bolstered by creating 28 winners compared to Kessler's 12.
This second-round match took 1 hour and 32 minutes, and Sabalenka admitted the atmosphere felt reminiscent of a Grand Slam final. She remarked, "It felt like a Grand Slam final -- the atmosphere ... it was so much fun. She's playing incredible tennis, such a tough opponent. Honestly, I was just trying to focus on myself, on staying aggressive, put as much pressure as I could on her, and I'm really super happy."
Sabalenka's mental resilience has been notable. She faced adversity earlier this season, coming close to her third consecutive Australian Open title but falling short against Keys. After losing, she felt lost and introspective, saying, "I was always thinking about [that match]. It was probably my mistake, but I think I had to go through it, I had to realise couple of things."
Looking to reset her season, Sabalenka finds Indian Wells particularly special. She mentioned, "Indian Wells feels like a Grand Slam. And back-to-back Indian Wells-Miami Open. I love this tournament." Her strong opener at Indian Wells is significant, especially as she finished as the runner-up last year. Now, she is poised to face Italian Lucia Bronzetti on March 10, 2025, where her experience and skills will be put to the test once again.
After securing the victory, attention is now turning to Sabalenka’s upcoming match against Bronzetti. Sabalenka's focus will be on maintaining her momentum, hoping to capitalize on her strengths demonstrated against Kessler to continue her tournament run. With 30 wins at WTA 1000 level since 2024, Sabalenka remains one of the most formidable players on the tour.
Pundits and fans alike will be watching closely to see if Sabalenka can channel her recent win and past experiences at Indian Wells to challenge for yet another title as she aims for redemption and growth on the court.