In the aftermath of a thrilling Indian Wells final, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka humorously issued a challenge to young sensation Mirra Andreeva, promising a fiercer battle in their next encounter. Sabalenka, who was vying for her third victory over Andreeva this year, fell short during the hard-fought final, leading to an amusing exchange during the trophy presentation.
Sabalenka, who had a dominant start to 2025 with impressive victories at the Brisbane International and the Australian Open, couldn’t replicate her success in the Indian Wells final. Despite appearing poised to clinch her third win against Andreeva after a strong start to the match, the 17-year-old Russian had other plans. Andreeva staged a remarkable comeback, flipping the script and securing a 2-6 6-4 6-3 victory – her second win in six encounters with Sabalenka.
Known for her light-hearted demeanor following defeats, Sabalenka couldn’t resist a joke at the expense of her young opponent. She quipped, “I’ll meet you next time on court… Probably it won’t go your way… But whatever,” during the trophy presentation, prompting laughter from the crowd and Andreeva herself.
However, the jovial exchange didn’t mask Sabalenka’s competitive spirit. The Belarusian tennis star, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has never been one to take losses in title matches lightly.
Andreeva’s victory in Indian Wells, adding to her back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and the desert, has been attributed in part to her coaching team led by 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez. Following the Indian Wells final, Sabalenka, acknowledging the strength of Andreeva’s team, humorously reflected on her own early career, saying, “Congrats on having a great team. If I had the same team you have at your age, I’d probably be a better player by now (laughs). Don’t look at my team. I have the best team right now. I mean before!”
It’s clear that the rivalry between these two talented players is just warming up. As both players gear up for their next encounters, fans can look forward to more thrilling games and lively exchanges, both on and off the court.
