Rybakina Defeats Svitolina 7-5, 6-4 To Reach Indian Wells Final

Rybakina subdues Svitolina 7-5, 6-4 to reach Indian Wells final

Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan has torn through the draw in the desert, losing only one set (to H. Baptiste). The world #3 and reigning Australian Open champion is on a mission, having lost last month to Victoria Mboko in the quarters in Doha and the round of sixteen in Dubai via retirement due to illness.

Elina Svitolina is back in the top ten at #9 and playing with an abundance of confidence and a sense of urgency. She dispatched world #2 Iga Swiatek in three in the quarters after surviving a tough three-setter against tour veteran Laura Siegemund in her opening match.

They were level at three apiece in the head-to-head with Svitolina triumphing in their most recent encounter last spring in Madrid on the dirt. She also prevailed in a tight three-setter in their lone hardcourt match at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

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Svitolina posed a serious challenge; with nineteen career titles, including five at the 1000 level, she is always a tough out. This was her second semifinal appearance, having lost in three sets in 2019 to eventual champion Bianca Andreescu.

Svitolina served first and with a double fault and ace, held to 30 while Rybakina opened with a double fault, hit an ace up tee but dumped serve when she elected not to hit a ball that was in!
Svitolina gave back the break with two unforced errors and two winners from her opponent. Rybakina opened the fourth with an incredible inside-out forehand and with a forehand crosscourt, leveled at two. Svitolina missed 4/5 first serves yet held easily to 15 while Rybakina struck two consecutive winners, including another ace for 3-3.

The ninth seed hit her second double fault and ace, faced two deuce and break point, yet held for 4-3 while Rybakina serving with new balls held to love with two extraordinary groundstroke winners.

Svitolina’s exceptional movement, shot tolerance, and improved serve were on full display as she held easily to 15 to lead 5-4. Rybakina serving to stay in the set faced deuce but leveled at five with three winners, including two additional aces, the last on game point.

Svitolina opened the eleventh with a mishit forehand approach, and though she struck her third ace, she gifted two double faults, faced five deuce, three break points, and dropped serve. Rybakina maintained her composure as she served for the set. The reigning Aussie Open champ missed three consecutive first serves, but with two spectacular forehands and a monster serve out wide, consolidated the break to secure it.  

Svitolina served first in the second, and while she struck her third ace, she became a bit complacent with two consecutive errors to dump serve. Rybakina consolidated the break for 2-0 with two additional winners, including her fifth ace. Svitolina led 40-15, but with two more double faults, faced four deuce points, three break points, and dumped serve.

Rybakina, closing in on the title match, struck her sixth ace and held to 30 to consolidate the break for 4-0 while Svitolina made 4/5 first serves and held easily to 15 to get on the board.
Rybakina opened the sixth with two consecutive unforced errors, faced two deuce and three break points, but held for 5-1 with an outstanding forehand down the line. Svitolina, serving to stay in the match, donated her seventh double fault and faced match point, yet held for 2-5 with a brilliant backhand down the line.

Rybakina served for the match and, despite leading 40-30, faced four deuce points, four break points, and dropped serve following a litany of unforced errors. Svitolina pounced; though she gifted her eight double faults, she consolidated the break for 4-5 with her sixth ace and a fantastic forehand inside-in.

The third seed opened with a marvelous forehand down the line and, with two additional winners, held her third match point and converted with a well-struck backhand volley. Rybakina was determined to win in straights; Svitolina is a resilient competitor, not to be underestimated. The Ukrainian reached a career high of #3 in 2017 and is approaching fifty victories over top-ten opponents.

In Sunday’s championship match, Rybakina will take on world #1 Aryna Sabalenka, who leads the head-to-head 8-7, though Rybakina has won the last two with the title on the line. She prevailed in three at the 2026 Australian Open and in straight sets at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh. They are level at 5-5 in hardcourt matches, including Rybakina’s victory in the 2023 Indian Wells final. Win or lose, Rybakina will wake up Monday morning at a career-high rank of #2.