Aryna Sabalenka strikes again: Can she avenge Melbourne loss to Keys?

Aryna Sabalenka delivered once more, overcoming Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the Indian Wells semifinals. The World No. 1 faced few problems against the Russian, dominating from start to finish to claim a 6-2, 6-2 victory, setting up a rematch of the Australian Open final against Madison Keys.

The Belarusian secured her 16th appearance in a WTA 1000 semifinal and her second at Indian Wells, having fallen in the 2023 final to Elena Rybakina. The upcoming clash with Keys promises to be an intriguing battle, as both players currently lead the WTA Race in 2025. Keys claimed her first Grand Slam title earlier this year by defeating Sabalenka in Melbourne.

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First Set

Sabalenka didn’t start off well, conceding her serve in the opening game, hinting at a potentially tight contest. After trailing 0-2, Sabalenka quickly took control, effectively returning both first and second serves from the Russian. The 3-time Grand Slam champion broke back in a hard-fought game and levelled the match at 2-2.

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With the match back on even terms, Sabalenka turned up the aggression, overwhelming her opponent with sheer power and serving with confidence. She was more clinical in the key moments, converting 3/5 break points, while Samsonova capitalised on her only opportunity.

Sabalenka reeled off six consecutive games to take the set 6-2 in 45 minutes, winning 57% of the points played.

Second Set

Sabalenka kept her foot on the gas in the second set, winning the first 12 points in a row. A single break and holding her serve put her 3-0 up, stringing together a total of nine consecutive games won. However, the world No. 25 managed to break the streak with her serve and regained some confidence.

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Surprisingly, Samsonova secured a break after an unforced error from Sabalenka’s backhand, giving herself a chance in the set by levelling it at 3-3. But Sabalenka wasn’t up for surprises, taking control of the match again with solid service games. On her first break point opportunity, she regained the decisive advantage to seal the victory 6-2, 6-3 and book her place in the semi-finals.

The Belarusian posted an impressive 69% first-serve percentage, winning 71% of those points, while also claiming 55% of the points on return. Her next challenge will be Madison Keys, as she looks for revenge after losing the Australian Open final, which denied her a Melbourne triple crown after 20 consecutive wins.

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