January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
INDIAN WELLS (United States), March 16 — Aryna Sabalenka saved a match point and rallied to beat Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) yesterday, claiming her long-awaited first Indian Wells title.
The victory ended Sabalenka’s frustrating streak against Rybakina, who had won their previous four title matches, including the 2023 Indian Wells final and a close contest at the Australian Open in January.
After falling a break behind in the second set, Sabalenka fought back and survived a match point at 5-6 in the tiebreaker before finally securing the trophy—and a satisfying measure of revenge.
“Thank God I got this trophy,” Sabalenka said, recalling last year’s defeat to Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in the final.
In the third set, Sabalenka initially broke for a 2-1 lead, but Rybakina responded with aggressive returns to level at 5-5, saving five break points along the way. Determined, Sabalenka held serve at love to force the tiebreaker, rallied from 3-5 down, saved match point with a stunning backhand winner, and then won the next two points to seal the title.
“On that five-all game, I was really upset every time I missed her second serve,” Sabalenka said. “I didn’t feel my best, but in the next game I pulled out great serves to get into the tiebreak.”
She added that the “boiling” court temperature made the tiebreak physically taxing, but both players were affected. “I pushed myself to the limit and I’m super happy I played great tennis in the final three points to win,” she said.
The match was again decided by fine margins between the big-serving, hard-hitting rivals. Rybakina converted the only break point in the opening set to lead 4-2 and held the set after saving points when serving for it. Sabalenka faced early trouble in the second set after a double fault but bounced back to win four straight games and eventually take the set 6-3.
In the third set, Sabalenka continued to fend off break points, taking advantage of Rybakina’s rising unforced errors in the desert heat, and held serve to push the match into a tiebreaker, where she clinched the title.
“I think the first set I played really well, second set was a big drop,” Rybakina said. “Third set was tough for both of us.”
Sabalenka now heads to the Miami Open to defend her title and pursue the coveted “Sunshine Double,” while Rybakina will enter Miami ranked world No. 2, moving ahead of Poland’s Iga Swiatek. — AFP
