World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open with a straight-set victory over qualifier Himeno Sakatsume on Friday, March 6, 2026. The win comes after Sabalenka announced her engagement to Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis earlier this week, adding an extra layer of excitement to her return to the court.
How did Aryna Sabalenka perform in her first match at Indian Wells?
Who was her opponent in the match?
How long did Sabalenka’s match last?
Who will Sabalenka face in the next round?
Sabalenka hadn’t competed since falling to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final on January 31, choosing to skip tournaments in Doha and Dubai before arriving at Indian Wells. Facing Sakatsume, a 24-year-old who upset Alycia Parks in the previous round, the top-ranked player quickly asserted her dominance.
The Belarusian broke Sakatsume’s serve in the particularly first game, and again to go up 2-0. Sakatsume finally got on the board in the third game, celebrating with visible relief. Despite a spirited effort, the qualifier struggled to find any rhythm on Sabalenka’s serve.
Sakatsume faced four break points while trailing 1-4, but managed to fend them all off and stay within striking distance. However, she couldn’t convert those defensive stands into offensive opportunities, ultimately dropping the first set 4-6 after 38 minutes of play.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Sabalenka breaking early and maintaining control. She built a 4-1 lead, consistently putting pressure on Sakatsume’s serve. While Sakatsume managed to win one more game, she couldn’t challenge Sabalenka’s authority.
Sabalenka Advances to the Third Round
Sabalenka closed out the match with a 6-4, 6-2 victory in 72 minutes, earning her 82nd win in 100 matches played as the WTA’s top-ranked player. The result demonstrates her continued dominance and sets her up for a deep run at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament.
In the next round, Sabalenka will face either Jaqueline Cristian (World No. 35) or Maya Joint (World No. 29). A potential quarterfinal matchup against either Iva Jović (World No. 18) or Naomi Osaka (World No. 16) looms large as the tournament progresses.
