Indian Wells Mixed Invitational final set: Bencic and Cobolli oust defending champions as Tsitsipas/Sakkari fall in semifinals

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari were denied a place in the final of the Mixed Doubles Invitational at the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells after falling in a dramatic semifinal on Thursday. The Greek pair pushed top seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Lloyd Glasspool to the limit but ultimately lost 6–2, 4–6, 13–11 in a tense super tiebreak.

The defeat ended a competitive run for the Greek duo in the $1 million Mixed Invitational, one of the exhibition-style events accompanying the WTA and ATP competitions in the California desert. Tsitsipas and Sakkari showed resilience throughout the match, saving multiple match points before narrowly missing out on a place in the championship match.

Their elimination also confirmed the first team in the final, with Dabrowski and Glasspool advancing after a hard-fought semifinal that featured momentum swings and extended pressure points in the deciding match tiebreak.

The second semifinal earlier in the day produced another notable result, as Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli defeated defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori in straight sets. The Swiss–Italian pairing secured a 6–3, 6–3 victory, setting up a final clash with Dabrowski and Glasspool for the Mixed Invitational title.

The semifinal between Tsitsipas/Sakkari and Dabrowski/Glasspool proved to be one of the most competitive matches of the mixed doubles event. The top-seeded Canadian–British pairing started strongly and relied on their experience from the beginning to take control of the match.

Dabrowski and Glasspool controlled the opening set and quickly built a lead that the Greek pair struggled to recover from. Their efficient service games and pressure on return allowed them to take the first set 6–2, putting Tsitsipas and Sakkari on the defensive.

The Greek duo responded in the second set by raising their intensity and improving their coordination at the net. Sakkari’s consistency from the baseline and Tsitsipas’ attacking play helped the pair regain control of several key points, allowing them to break serve and close the set 6–4 to level the match.

The contest ultimately came down to a decisive super tiebreak, where both teams traded momentum. Dabrowski and Glasspool appeared close to victory after earning three match points, but Tsitsipas and Sakkari showed resilience to save them and draw level at 11–11.

Despite the late comeback attempt, two costly net errors in the closing stages allowed the top seeds to regain control. Dabrowski and Glasspool converted their next opportunity to seal the match 13–11, ending the Greek pair’s hopes of reaching the final. The Greeks — who had received a wildcard — had surprised many by defeating the third seeds in the quarterfinals (Stefani/Arévalo), but their run ultimately ended against the first seeds of the draw.

The other semifinal produced a more straightforward outcome as Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli overcame defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori (three-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champions). The experienced Italian duo entered the match with a strong doubles pedigree and the momentum of their previous title run at Indian Wells.

However, Bencic and Cobolli delivered a composed performance, controlling the rhythm of the match with consistent baseline play and effective net positioning. The Swiss–Italian pairing broke serve at key moments in both sets, limiting the opportunities for Errani and Vavassori to apply pressure.

The result was a 6–3, 6–3 victory that ended the Italians’ title defense and secured Bencic and Cobolli a place in the final of the Mixed Invitational. The unusual partnership between two regular singles players had already produced surprises earlier in the tournament, eliminating established doubles specialists such as Ostapenko alongside King and Mladenovic together with Guinard.

With both semifinals completed, the final of the Indian Wells Mixed Doubles Invitational will feature two teams that navigated very different semifinal paths. Dabrowski and Glasspool survived a dramatic super tiebreak to reach the championship match, while Bencic and Cobolli advanced in straight sets after defeating the defending champions.

Although the mixed doubles competition does not award ranking points, the $1 million prize pool has attracted a number of high-profile singles players alongside established doubles specialists.

The final will therefore bring together one of the most experienced doubles players on tour in Dabrowski, alongside Glasspool’s established doubles credentials, against the dynamic pairing of Bencic and Cobolli. After two contrasting semifinal performances, the championship match promises another competitive encounter in the desert.