Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, faced a stern test in her opening match at the Indian Wells Masters, battling back from the brink of defeat to secure a thrilling 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) victory over American qualifier Payton Stearns.Sabalenka, ranked second in the world, struggled from the outset against the 64th-ranked Stearns, who pushed the Belarusian to the limit in a match that ebbed and flowed throughout. The American outsider served for the upset at 5-4 in the third set, but Sabalenka broke back and saved four match points to force a tiebreaker.In the tense tiebreaker, Sabalenka's resilience shone through as she saved another match point with a blistering backhand winner. Stearns, feeling the pressure, tightened up, allowing Sabalenka to break back for 5-5. The American broke Sabalenka again, but couldn't serve out the match, and Sabalenka ultimately prevailed in the tiebreaker.The double Grand Slam winner advanced into the third round after a grueling three-hour battle, letting out a roar of triumph and relief. "This match will definitely go into the book of craziest matches and the best matches of my career," she said.Despite rolling her ankle during the intense match, Sabalenka expressed confidence in her fitness for her next match. "I was trying so hard to get to every ball and to put every ball back," she said. "Now I feel OK, we'll see tomorrow. But I have a great team, and I'm pretty sure they will take care of it so for the next match I will be ready."Sabalenka praised Stearns' performance, acknowledging that she had to dig deep to overcome the American's challenge. "I'm super happy that I didn't give up on that score, and I was really pushing myself hard," she said. "Even though I didn't play my best tennis and she was crushing it like crazy, I was trying to stay in the game and keep fighting for every point."Sabalenka, who finished runner-up to Elena Rybakina in Indian Wells last year, will face 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu of Britain in the third round.

The BNP Paribas Open's Eisenhower Cup, held on Tuesday night, showcased a unique blend of tennis stars from both the ATP and WTA tours. The innovative Tie Break Tens format, where players compete solely in tiebreaks, provided a thrilling and entertaining spectacle for fans.World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka joined forces with ATP Top 10 stars Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz. Off-court couple Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas shared the court, while Caroline Wozniacki made a highly anticipated return alongside Holger Rune.Last-minute lineup changes saw Maria Sakkari replace Elena Rybakina and Sloane Stephens step in for Jessica Pegula. However, it was former NCAA champions Emma Navarro and Ben Shelton who emerged victorious.Shelton's powerful serve and Navarro's steady baseline play proved to be a formidable combination. They saved a match point in their opening win over Sakkari and Rublev, setting the tone for their eventual triumph."I'm confident standing at the net when he's serving," said Navarro. "We had a lot of fun."The Eisenhower Cup showcased the camaraderie and competitive spirit of the tennis world. The relaxed atmosphere allowed players to enjoy the game while still showcasing their exceptional skills.