Aryna Sabalenka finally got her hands on the BNP Paribas Open trophy she coveted by coming through a riveting final with rival Elena Rybakina.
After failing to serve out the contest on a scorching Sunday at 5-4 in the third, and then watching Rybakina save five break points to hold for 6-5, the world No. 1 later saved a championship point in the ensuing tiebreak.
One final long shot from Rybakina in a baseline exchange sealed the gripping 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory for Sabalenka, who had previously dropped title matches in 2023 (to the Kazakh) and last year to Mirra Andreeva.
Afterwards, the four-time major winner naturally included the newest addition to her family—puppy Ash—to celebrate the moment, ahead of getting her long-awaited chance to be front and center for the tournament’s iconic trophy shot with Santa Rosa mountains backdrop.