Sabalenka-Osaka Rematch Sets Up Indian Wells Blockbuster

Aryna Sabalenka

World number one Aryna Sabalenka takes on 2018 champion Naomi Osaka in the Indian Wells fourth round, with Osaka looking to avenge her only previous meeting.

Aryna Sabalenka faces Naomi Osaka, who avenged her 2018 loss, in the Indian Wells fourth round...

Japan's Osaka, seeded 16th, pounced for a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Camila Osorio to avenge a demoralizing first-round loss to the Colombian here last year.

Sabalenka is chasing a first title in the prestigious ATP and WTA Masters 1000 event after twice coming up empty in the final.

Osaka won her first title in Indian Wells in 2018, going on to win the US Open that year in a run that included a victory over Sabalenka.

Sabalenka and Osaka Advance to Round of 16

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, has made it to the round of 16 at Indian Wells, beating Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 6-1. Her next opponent will be Naomi Osaka, who defeated Camila Osorio 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, avenging her first-round loss to the Colombian last year.

Osaka's Comeback

Osaka's win was a comeback thriller, as she overcame a slow start to defeat Osorio. This sets up an exciting matchup against Sabalenka, who has been in top form, winning 23 of her last 24 matches against players ranked outside the top 20.

Aryna Sabalenka is on the hunt for her first ATP and WTA Masters 1000 title, having fallen short in the finals twice before. She's looking to turn things around this time around.

 

Roaring on 🐆@naomiosaka overcomes a valiant Osorio fightback to come through 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 in the sunshine.#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/KtiwaPDhAz

— wta (@WTA) March 8, 2026

Naomi Osaka, the 2018 Indian Wells champion, has a history with Sabalenka - she beat her en route to winning the US Open that year. Now, Osaka is back, and she's set to face Sabalenka in the fourth round, looking to avenge her 2018 loss. 

First Time Showdown

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, both four-time Grand Slam champions, faced off for the first time. Swiatek had a few wags, including a double fault on break point serving for set one.

Sabalenka capitalized, breaking Cristian to take the opener. She looked satisfied with her dominant display, powering past Swiatek. 

“I knew that she was not going to give up easily,” she said. “That's why I was super-focused, especially on my serve. I didn't want to give her much opportunity so super-happy with the serving, with the game and of course with the win.”

Big Matches Ahead

Amanda Anisimova (6) takes on Emma Raducanu, a former Grand Slam champ looking for a strong bounce-back performance. Raducanu's last outing was a WTA final appearance.

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff headlines the night session against Alexandra Eala, who's seeking revenge after a 6-0, 6-2 loss in Dubai. Sounds like a thrilling one.

“I'm excited,” Eala said. “It was a tough match for me last time. I think she played really well. So all I can do is take the learnings that I have from our last match and try to implement that in our next one.”

Home Crowd Advantage

Coco Gauff can expect a lively crowd, coming off an “awkward” 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Kamilla Rakhimova. But Alexandra Eala won't be lacking support either, with her loyal Filipino fans backing her in California.

“It means the world to have this community behind me in such a prestigious tournament,” Eala said after a chilly win over Dayana Yastremska. “It really added to the feelings and the emotions after the match.” 

Digging DEEP 👊@JasminePaolini marches onto the round of 16 with hard fought win over Tomljanovic!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/w2yau2Lm6b

— wta (@WTA) March 8, 2026