Sabalenka “hungry” but not “desperate” against Keys following Australian Open loss

Aryna Sabalenka wanted to win her BNP Paribas Open semi-final match against Madison Keys, and wanted it badly — but not so badly that she couldn’t keep her head on straight.

Sabalenka could not have been more focused or more clinical as she crushed Keys 6-0, 6-1 in a mere 51 minutes on Friday night.

With that, the world No 1 gained at least some measure of revenge for her loss to Keys in the Australian Open final less than two months ago. Sabalenka had been the two-time defending champion at Melbourne Park, but she fell to Keys 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in perhaps the most dramatic match on the WTA Tour so far in 2025.

If I would lose again, it would get in my head. and i didn’t want that to happen.

Sabalenka made sure there was no such drama in the Indian Wells rematch.

“I needed this revenge badly, so I was really focused,” the Belarusian said during her post-match press conference. “And I think tactically I played really great tennis. I would say that today was a bit opposite (from Melbourne). Like I played great at the beginning, and she kind of lost her rhythm and she couldn’t play her best tennis. I think that’s why the match went so fast. So at the [Australian Open], I played really bad and she played great. It’s just, like, tennis. Let’s just call it tennis.”

Let’s also call it a disaster avoided. Because — by her own admission — if Sabalenka had lost again, it would have been tough for her to handle.

“It’s not like I was really desperate,” she explained. “I was more…I don’t know how to call it. I was hungry and, as I said before, that Australian Open match [made me] really heartbroken. I really needed some time to recover after that. And if I would lose today again, it would get in my head. And I didn’t want that to happen. I was really focused, so I was just really hungry to get this win against Madison.”

Sabalenka will now face Mirra Andreeva for the Indian Wells title on Sunday.

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