Article
Shining Like A Diamond: Sabalenka Sets Osaka Clash
3 Min Read · March 8, 2026
Aryna Sabalenka is hoping her seventh trip to the California desert is the charm.
The two-time finalist advanced her bid for a first title in Tennis Paradise on Sunday, opening play on Stadium 1 with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian to set a fourth-round battle with 2018 champion Naomi Osaka.
“She's such an incredible player, such a fighter, and I knew that she's not gonna give up easily, and that I would have to work really hard, and I think that's why I was super focused, especially on my serve,” Sabalenka, who saved five of six break points on the day, said on court.
Sabalenka had her difficulties against the 27-year-old Bucharest native, who was backed by an enthusiastic cluster of Romanian fans inside Stadium 1 on a sunny Sunday in Tennis Paradise.
World No. 35 Cristian made a play for the opening set when she notched her only break of the day in the ninth game to get back on serve, but four-time major champion Sabalenka redoubled her efforts and broke in the tenth game, taking the set 6-4 as Cristian poured in an ill-timed double fault.
Both players saved break points in their first service game of the second set, and it would soon be Sabalenka who moved ahead for 3-1 with her third break of the afternoon.
It was one-way traffic the rest of the way for the 27-year-old. Sabalenka improves to 13-1 on the season, and 17-6 lifetime at Indian Wells.
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After the win, Sabalenka was still glowing from victory — and from her recent engagement to fiance Georgios Frangulis. She was happy to show off her impressive oval-cut diamond, which reportedly weighs more than 12 carats and is set in platinum.
“I feel like for the next, I don't know, year or so, I'll be still showing my ring, and this is gonna be the main topic, right?”
Another day in the life of the World No. 1 in Tennis Paradise.
2018 champion Osaka edged past Colombia's Camila Osorio 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 to set a highly anticipated round of 16 match with Sabalenka. The pair of four-time Grand Slam champions have not met since their 2018 battle at the US Open which was considered a de facto final at the time.
Osaka went on to win 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, and continued on to claim the title in Flushing Meadows that year.
