Sensational Aryna Sabalenka delivers a bakery special to Madison Keys in Indian Wells semifinal

Aryna Sabalenka, dominating as ever, ended Madison Keys' 15-match winning streak to advance to the Indian Wells final. The world No. 1 overwhelmed her opponent not only in the score but also in controlling the game. Keys was especially erratic, and the victory went to the Belarusian with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 scoreline.

The 3-time Grand Slam champion reached her second Indian Wells final, following her loss to Elena Rybakina in the 2023 final. This marks her 11th WTA 1000 final, with seven titles so far, and she will look to use her experience against the teenager Mirra Andreeva in the title match.

An absolutely remarkable first set from the world No. 1. Sabalenka quickly earned the first break and was up 3-0 against Keys (No. 5), who continually hit the ball into the net. The Belarusian capitalized on Keys’ unforced errors, staying focused to break again and take a 4-0 lead.

There were hardly any rallies, with Sabalenka hitting winners and Keys making mistakes. Sabalenka never slowed down and took the set with a dominant 6-0 scoreline, leaving Madison Keys almost unrecognizable. Both players hit 7 winners, but Keys made 13 unforced errors compared to just 4 from Sabalenka.

Sabalenka won 71% of points on her serve, 67% of return points, and had a 100% break point conversion rate (3/3). On the other hand, Keys had no break point opportunities and watched as the set slipped away in just 24 minutes.

In the second set, Keys’ frustration was clear as she struggled against Sabalenka’s consistency. The Belarusian didn’t need to take big risks, understanding her opponent's lack of confidence, and kept control of the match without needing to reach her highest level.

Sabalenka saved a break point in the first game, the first opportunity Keys had in the match. However, a quick break from the Belarusian left Keys demoralized, and nothing seemed to work for her on the night. It took Sabalenka less than 20 minutes to grab another break, putting her up 5-0, and the American showed some fight to hold serve for the first time and cut the lead to 5-1. But it was all for nothing, as Sabalenka wrapped up the match 6-0, 6-1, advancing to the Indian Wells final without breaking a sweat.

She will face the surprising Mirra Andreeva, who is on an 11-match winning streak and recently defeated Iga Swiatek in a thrilling three-set battle. The Russian has a chance to secure her second consecutive WTA 1000 title.