Indian Wells, March 14 – Two-time runner-up and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will compete for the Indian Wells title for the third time in four years after defeating No. 14 seed Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final.
Sabalenka's semifinal victory over Noskova is her 20th career win at Indian Wells. She is now the first world No. 1 in the WTA Rankings to reach the final in consecutive years since the tournament's inception in 1989, and joins Victoria Azarenka as the only two active players to reach the Indian Wells final three separate times.
Sabalenka appeared comfortable from start to finish against the 21-year-old first-time Indian Wells semifinalist, and quickly took control of her second career meeting with the Czech, racing to a double-break 5-1 lead and winning the set relatively quickly.
However, the rising Czech star put up a strong fight in the second set.
She showcased her serving skills by saving two break points to hold serve at 3-2, keeping the deficit to a single break. Noskova even had a break point against her when Sabalenka was serving at 4-3, 30-40 in the second set, but three consecutive powerful serves brought the world No. 1 to the brink of victory at 6-3, 5-3.
Sabalenka completed the job two games later, hitting a forehand winner into the open court to close the match in one hour and 28 minutes.
"It feels great, but I lost my last couple of finals here," Sabalenka told the crowd. "I'll make sure that I'm more than ready on Sunday. I'll bring my best tennis to make sure that this is the year."
Sunday's final will mark Sabalenka's 43rd at the tour level, and she has now reached three consecutive finals at the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami), joining Monica Seles and Steffi Graf.