The 24-year-old Belarusian, who reaches this stage of the event for the first time, will face Poland's world No. 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek or Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina (10th).

More aggressive and consistent, Sabalenka controlled the match without batting an eyelid, started more than half an hour late, because the referee's microphone did not work to make the announcements. However, she said she was disturbed by the incident.

"For a second, I thought +oops, something is wrong today+. Then I told myself that these things can happen, and it doesn't matter. I just have to calm down and relax. I'm glad it didn't really affect my game," she told a news conference.

The Belarusian broke three times in the first set, showing no mercy in return on Sakkari's second balls, with 11 points won out of 14 played.

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during her match against Greece's Maria Sakkari, on March 17, 2023 in Indian Wells © Frederic J. Brown / AFP

The fight continued with the same results in the second set, Sabalenka continuing to bully the 27-year-old Greek, who appeared somewhat borrowed. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she had already spent more than double the time of her rival on the courts, to reach the last square.

Maximum confidence

She who was aiming for a second consecutive final in the California desert resisted by breaking to come back to 2-2, at which time she missed an opportunity to resume Sabalenka's serve, somewhat on the back foot. But the latter is another player now, who no longer cracks so easily at the slightest annoyance.

"In the past, I've lost so many matches like that, on just a few stupid mistakes. I told myself that it was okay to make these mistakes, that I was not a robot, that I could miss these shots. That's how I was able to keep fighting," she said.

Greece's Maria Sakkari during her match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka, on March 17, 2023 in Indian Wells © Frederic J. Brown / AFP

Sabalenka immediately recovered and was able to rely on a solid first ball to win his bet, then escape definitively.

"Maria is a great player, when you play her you know it will be difficult, so I am very happy with this victory," said the Belarusian.

Since his first major title in January in Melbourne, maximum confidence has been in Sabalenka, who has lost only one match out of 18 played in 2023.

"I feel very good on the court right now, but I also understand that it won't always be the same. That's why I keep working hard, making sure that on days when things don't go my way, there's no problem. But, yes, it's great to be one of the best players," she said.

She who had never before passed the 8th in Indian Wells can still confirm this status on Sunday. "This tournament looks like a Grand Slam, I really want to win it," she concluded.

© 2023 AFP