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Sabalenka to face Sakatsume in Indian Wells round of 64

Aryna Sabalenka. Photo courtesy of the NOC of Belarus

MINSK, 5 March (BelTA) – The first-round action got underway at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, USA, which offers a prize fund of $9.4 million. Following these opening matches, the tournament’s top favorites discovered who their first opponents will be, BelTA has learned.

In the round of 64, the opponent for world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will be Japanese Himeno Sakatsume (world No. 132), who defeated Alycia Parks of the USA (No. 96) 6-4, 6-3. The Japanese player advanced to the main draw after securing two victories in qualifying.

The competition in Indian Wells will conclude on 15 March. In the 2025 final, Aryna Sabalenka lost to Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva, and in 2023, she was defeated by Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina. In 2012 and 2016, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka became the winner of this tournament.

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