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Sabalenka cruises past Sakkari and into Indian Wells final

Syndication: Desert Sun

Aryna Sabalenka sprints toward the net in her semifinal win over Maria Sakkari during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., March 17, 2023. Bnp Friday 34

Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Aryna Sabalenka defeated Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 to move into the BNP Paribas Open final.

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, improved to 17-1 this year. She will be seeking her 13th career title in Sunday’s final against the winner of the other semifinal between top-ranked Iga Swiatek or 10th-seeded Elena Rybakina.

“It’s going to be huge,” said Sabalenka, who won the doubles title in the desert in 2019. “This tournament feels like a Grand Slam. I really want to hold this trophy as a singles champion.”

Sabalenka took control against Sakkari, seeded seventh, from the start. She attacked the Greek’s second serve, winning 20 of 26 points off it. Sakkari, runner-up in last year’s final, fell to 3-5 in her career against Sabalenka.

Sakkari reached the semifinals by rallying from a set down three times and going 4-0 in deciding sets.

But Sabalenka was too dominant. She won the final three games, including two services, to take the first set, 6-2.

Sabalenka led 2-0 in the second before Sakkari tied it 2-all. From there, Sabalenka won four of the final five games to close out the match in 1 1/2 hours.

“Just super happy right now,” Sabalenka said on court. “Maria’s such a great player and I knew it was going to be tough.”