{"id":1829249,"date":"2026-03-16T13:45:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:45:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1829249"},"modified":"2026-03-16T13:45:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:45:59","slug":"aryna-sabalenka-discusses-rivalry-with-nice-elena-rybakina-after-indian-wells-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1829249","title":{"rendered":"Aryna Sabalenka discusses rivalry with &#8216;nice&#8217; Elena Rybakina after Indian Wells classic"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Aryna Sabalenka discusses rivalry with \u2018nice\u2019 Elena Rybakina after Indian Wells classic<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oli-dickson-jefford\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oli Dickson Jefford                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"16 Mar 2026 1:45 PM\" data-ps-date=\"16 Mar 2026 1:45 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1773668759\"><br \/>\n                            16 Mar 2026 1:45 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" 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href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Faryna-sabalenka-discusses-rivalry-nice-elena-rybakina-after-indian-wells-classic\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" 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object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rybakina-Sabalenka-IW-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka after the 2026 Indian Wells final.\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka after the 2026 Indian Wells final.                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Aryna Sabalenka has named Elena Rybakina as the \u201ckindest\u201d player on the WTA Tour as she discussed her growing rivalry with the new world No 2.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/aryna-sabalenka-elena-rybakina-prize-money-ranking-points-indian-wells-open\">Sabalenka saved a championship point to defeat Rybakina in an enthralling Indian Wells final on Sunday<\/a>, sealing victory in a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) instant classic to triumph at the prestigious WTA 1000 event for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>Victory for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/aryna-sabalenka\">Sabalenka<\/a> cemented her place as the world No 1, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/wta-tour\/wta-rankings-sabalenka-lead-rybakina-new-no-2-swiatek-drops-raducanu-top-25-eala-top-30\">while Rybakina has risen to a career-high of world No 2 in the WTA Rankings thanks to her run in Tennis Paradise<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Sabalenka and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/elena-rybakina\">Rybakina<\/a> have been two of the standout players in the women\u2019s game in recent years, and their rivalry is perhaps the best on the WTA right now.<\/p>\n<p>Following her victory in Indian Wells, the world No 1 has a narrow 9-7 lead in their head-to-head.<\/p>\n<p>However, despite her loss on Sunday, Rybakina still has a winning 4-2 record when the two meet in finals, most recently beating Sabalenka in the WTA Finals and Australian Open championship matches.<\/p>\n<p>Few can push world No 1 Sabalenka quite like the Kazakh, and this victory \u2014 her 23rd WTA singles title \u2014 may be among the most satisfying, considering how hard she had to push to beat the world No 2.<\/p>\n<p>After claiming the title, Sabalenka was asked about what it took to challenge and beat Rybakina in big matches and about their relationship.<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/everything-jannik-sinner-said-indian-wells-final-daniil-medvedev-message\">Everything Jannik Sinner said after Indian Wells title win as he sends message to Daniil Medvedev<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/daniil-medvedev-message-jannik-sinner-after-indian-wells-open-final\">Daniil Medvedev makes candid 28-word statement after losing to Jannik Sinner in Indian Wells final<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s [Rybakina] a nice one. I would say that she\u2019s the kindest one on tour,\u201d said Sabalenka.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been playing for so long so many matches. And honestly, I really enjoy it, even though I lost so many of them and really painful ones.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut still I enjoy it because it means that the final gonna be a show, it\u2019s gonna be great tennis, great level, and it\u2019s gonna be a fight, which is great for people to watch and also for me to become a better player.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I really enjoy our rivalry. So, yeah, I like her as a person, as a player, and I enjoy these battles. But I really hope that I\u2019m gonna win all of them from now on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This was the sixth meeting between Sabalenka and Rybakina since last June, with those matches split equally at three wins apiece.<\/p>\n<p>And, the two could now be set for another clash in the main draw of the Miami Open, the second half of the famed \u2018Sunshine Double\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>With the draw made on Sunday, before the WTA Rankings updated on Monday, Rybakina is the third seed at the event \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/wta-miami-open-draw-sabalenka-rybakina-on-same-half-swiatek-could-face-eala\">and has landed in the same half as Sabalenka, the top seed and reigning Miami Open champion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>That means the two are projected to meet at the semi-final stage of the event, with second seed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/iga-swiatek\">Iga Swiatek<\/a> \u2014 now the world No 3 \u2014 headlining the bottom half of the draw.<\/p>\n<p>Sabalenka will be looking to become the first woman since Ashleigh Barty in 2021 to successfully defend the title, and become the first woman since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2016 to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Rybakina will hope to triumph at the WTA 1000 event for the first time, having lost the final to Petra Kvitova in 2023 and Danielle Collins in 2024.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Next<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/wta-miami-open-points-defended-sabalenka-swiatek-gauff-raducanu-eala\">WTA Miami Open: Points being defended by Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Raducanu and Eala<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"kwizly-quiz kwizly-XbjZnX\" data-nosnippet=\"\" data-quiz-type=\"poll|mpu\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aryna Sabalenka discusses rivalry with \u2018nice\u2019 Elena Rybakina after Indian Wells classic Oli Dickson Jefford 16 Mar 2026 1:45 PM Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka after the 2026 Indian Wells final. Aryna Sabalenka has named Elena Rybakina as the \u201ckindest\u201d player on the WTA Tour as she discussed her growing rivalry with the new world [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1829249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1829249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1829249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1829249\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1829249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1829249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1829249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}