Badosa downs Azarenka in three hour Indian Wells epic

23 year old Paula Badosa became the first Spaniard to win the BNP Paribas Masters, title, the final WTA 1000 event of the 2021 season in Indian Wells.

In an epic three hour thriller, 21st seed Badosa snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-6(2) over the Belarus Vika Azarenka on Stadium Court at the Tennis Garden.

She also became the first player since 1993 to win the title in a third set tiebreaker.

Former world No.1 Azarenka was 30-0 up and serving, just two points from victory herself and on the brink of becoming the first woman to win the title three times.

However Badosa, playing in her first Masters 1000 final, won the next seven points to win the next two games and take the match into a third-set tiebreak.

She then won seven of the nine points in the tiebreak to win her second WTA singles title of the season and the biggest title of her career.

It was the first meeting between the two players, and the Spaniard followed in the footsteps of previous champion Bianca Andreescu, who also won the title in 2019, her tournament debut.

Main photo: Paula Badosa lifts 2021Indian Wells trophy – by Jimmie48/WTA Tennis.com