Aryna Sabalenka wins Indian Wells opener over McCartney Kessler

Aryna Sabalenka made a winning start to her 2025 BNP Paribas Open campaign, overcoming a strong challenge from McCartney Kessler, 7-6 (4), 6-3 to advance into the third round.

The world No. 1 struggled for form through the Middle East Swing, winning just one match out of three played in Doha and Dubai, but relied on a strong serving performance to defeat Kessler, a rising American star, in one hour and 32 minutes on Court 1.

Sabalenka had enjoyed a bright start to the 2025 season, capturing her 18th career WTA title in Brisbane and coming within one match of winning a third straight Australian Open. But after losing a close three-setter to Madison Keys in the final, illness and apathy stunted her progress in the Middle East.

“I believe that I'm not that hungry on court,” she said after a straight-set loss to Clara Tauson at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. “I'm kind of like all over the place in my thoughts and not consistent on the court. The decisions I'm making on the court are a bit wrong and emotionally I'm not on my best.”

Read more: Get to know McCartney Kessler, a former U.S. college star on the rise

Under pressure to turn things around in time for the Sunshine Swing, Sabalenka faced another tough early-round opponent in Kessler, who needed a wild card to play at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden a year ago. In the 12 months since that appearance, the 25-year-old University of Florida alum cracked the Top 50 by taking home two WTA titles. She reached a third final only last week in Austin and dropped just three games to Anna Blinkova in her first round on Thursday.

Her first match against a world No. 1—her previous highest-ranked opponent was No. 3 Coco Gauff, who she beat last month in Dubai—proved competitive from the outset. The two kicked off Saturday’s evening session by trading confident holds of serve; Kessler saved the lone break point of the set and forced the set into a tiebreaker. Though she claimed the opening mini-break, Sabalenka stormed through the next four points and ultimately claimed the set on her second opportunity.

Sabalenka opened with a break to start the second set and struck back-to-back aces of the night to dig out of a 0-30 deficit and put herself two games from the finish line.

The match ended with one last incredible rally, Kessler playing tremendous defense as Sabaleka sought to put the match away. The top seed ultimately wrapped up the point with a well-struck volley, edging into the third round in just over 90 minutes. Waiting for her there is unseeded Italian Lucia Bronzetti, who upset No. 30 seed Magdalena Freçh earlier in the afternoon (Sabalenka leads 2-0).