By Richard Pagliaro Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Image source: BNP Paribas Open Facebook
Indian Wells—Alina Sabalenka Promises to hold a fashion show before rematch with her Naomi Osaka.
The world number one wore a casual outfit.
Two-time finalist Sabalenka defeated Osaka 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
The reigning Miami Open and Madrid Open champion won 75 percent of her serves, blasting eight aces (four per set) and saving two break points she faced with a convincing display of power and versatility.
Sabalenka continues her pursuit of a maiden BNP Paribas Open title as she rockets into the quarter-finals, one of which she will play amanda anisimova, This will be a rematch of the 2025 US Open final or the Montreal title Victoria Mboko. Sixth seed Anisimova and tenth seed Mboko will face off tonight at Stadium 2.
Today’s opening match at Arena 1 is the first meeting between the current and former world No. 1 players since Osaka defeated Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the fourth round of the 2018 US Open. Osaka defeated Americans Madison Keys and Serena Williams in the final to win her first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka said that today’s rematch is a prelude to the upcoming showdown.
“I’m pretty sure we’re going to play more games,” Sabalenka said. “She’s going to play great tennis when she comes back. I’m even more satisfied with today’s result than the last time we played.”
Sabalenka won a wave of success on the first break point, and she successfully converted the third break point to lead 2-1.
After 17 minutes, Sabalenka served out of the game and tied the score to 3-1.
In a confident move that certainly made co-coach and former doubles No. 1 Max Mirnyi smile, Sabalenka followed up by parrying a high forehand volley for break point. Osaka saved the game, but found her forehand flat and faced her second break point.
This time, the top seed bombarded the backhand continuously from the bottom line. After a heavy attack in the 31st minute, he triggered a long net counterattack and broke serve again at 5-2.
The Belarusian team hit an ace on the T stage, bringing a triple set point.
On the second set point, Sabalenka hit her second ace of the game and the fourth set, sealing the victory in 34 minutes.
Excellent serving set the tone: Sabalenka hit 75 percent of her serves and scored just five second-serve points, while Osaka scored five of 13 second-serve points in the opener.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka held the lead through six games of the second set.
Then Sabalenka stepped on the gas.
Sabalenka closed in on her opponent with a crackling forehand return, stepped across the baseline and fired a diagonal forehand winner to break serve and make it 4-3.
In the eighth game, No. 16 seed Osaka tied the match with a forehand and got a break point. Sabalenka embraces this by citing her power pattern of serving hard on the AD side. That shot helped her tie the score at 5-3.
The top seed got match point with an ace, and Sabalenka hit a wide-serve winner to seal the 80-minute victory. Sabalenka improved to 14-1 this season.
“I think overall I’m happy that I put so much pressure on her and that I used variety on the court and I think she was a little confused in key moments,” Sabalenka said. “So I’m definitely happy with the performance.”
