Final day in Indian Wells.
2021 BNP Paribas Open - a WTA 1000 tournament, on Hard, in Indian Wells, California, USA, 4-17 October 2021.
Event not held last year due to COVID-19
Originally scheduled for 10-21 March 2021
Defending champion (2019):
Wildcard Bianca Andreescu who defeated Angelique Kerber (8) 6-4 3-6 6-4
Final:
Paula Badosa (21) (Spain) v Victoria Azarenka (27) (Belarus)
The players had never met in a match before this final.
It was the second final for Badosa, the Spaniard having won her previous final - May this year in Belgrade.
Dual major winner Azarenka was contesting her 41st final, having won 21 titles from her previous 40.
Azarenka served first, and her early strategy was to keep points short where possible. Rushing the net to knock off a winner exemplified this.
After holding with ease, Azarenka placed Badosa under pressure, the 21st seed saving a break point with a forehand winner.
Badosa survived five deuces and two more break points to level at 1-1.
Azarenka saved three break points in the third game.
Continuing the trend, two more break points were saved by Badosa in game four, and 2-2 was reached after half an hour.
At 3-3, Badosa attacked with success, and Azarenka dropped serve, a double fault not helping.
The Belarusian struck back immediately, a forehand return winner sealing the break. 4-4.
In game nine, Azarenka, at 40-30, double faulted then pushed a forehand long, giving Badosa a break point. It was saved after a long rally.
Azarenka held serve.
Badosa served at 4-5 to stay in the set. A Spanish forehand winner was offset by a double fault and a forehand error. Azarenka missed twice and it was 40-30. Badosa held for 5-5.
In game 11, Badosa hit a forehand winner to create break point. A strong serve and deuce. Azarenka also survived a second break chance, but her failed forehand on the third break point donated Badosa the game and a chance to serve for the set.
At 6-5, Badosa was at the line. First point to Azarenka. Forehand winner from Badosa and 15-15. A blistering forehand return winner from Azarenka, followed by a forehand miss from the same racquet, and 30-30.
Fantastic defence in the next two points from Azarenka and the break came. A tie break was the result.
Badosa won the first three points, one of those on an Azarenka serve. An Azarenka double fault and she was down 0-4.
Badosa served at 4-1, and received a backhand winner from Azarenka. 4-2 at the end change.
A double fault and 4-3, back on serve. A stunning forehand cross court winner from Badosa and she was ahead 5-3.
Azarenka forced an error and trailed 4-5.
Badosa netted a forehand and 5-5. Azarenka netted a backhand and Badosa had set point.
A searching rally ended with a Badosa backhand winner and she won the set 7-6(5).
Badosa served first in set two, and Azarenka won the first two points, a Belarusian volley winner and a Spanish double fault.
At 15-30, Azarenka picked off a volley winner while at the net, creating two break points. One saved with a Badosa backhand winner.
However, Azarenka hit a backhand down the line winner to break and lead 1-0.
Serve was held after visiting deuce, and Azarenka led 2-0.
Badosa was broken to love in game three, a double fault and errors leaving Azarenka nothing to do but accept the gift. 3-0.
Azarenka faced two break points in game four, and Badosa’s second backhand winner for the game converted the second break point. She trailed 1-3.
In game five, Badosa led 40-15, but a careless error and two Azarenka winners left her facing break point. She saved it, but an Azarenka backhand winner at the net created another break opportunity, and Badosa relented with a shot going wide.
Azarenka led 4-1.
A love game and Azarenka was a game away from squaring the match.
Badosa quickly made it 2-5 and Azarenka would serve for the set.
40-15 after three winners and an ace. Two set points. Only one needed, and one set all. 6-7(5) 6-2.
In the decider, Badosa held from 0-30, then converted the second of two break points to lead 2-0.
Badosa double faulted at 40-30, but hit an off forehand winner next point. Azarenka replied with a forehand winner and deuce again.
A forehand return winner and break back point. Saved. A second break point saved with a backhand winner. A double fault created a third break point.
Badosa missed with a backhand and Azarenka broke back, trailing 1-2.
At 2-2, for her second service game in a row, Badosa let slip a 40-15 lead and Azarenka had break point. It was saved, and this time serve was held.
Badosa led 3-2.
Azarenka broke in the ninth game and serving for the match led 30-0. However, Badosa won four points in succession to break back.
The next two games were easily won on serve and a tie break was required to decide the match.
Four of the first six points went against the serve - three against Azarenka - and Badosa led 5-1.
At 6-2 Badosa had four match points. She only needed one and the title was hers, winning 7-6(5) 2-6 7-6(2).
With the win, Paula Badosa rose to a new career high ranking of #13 - previously it was #26.
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