Paula Badosa recorded the biggest victory of her career with a marathon 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (2) victory over 27th-seeded Victoria Azarenka in the championship match of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif.
The 21st-seeded Spaniard served seven aces while beating two-time event champion Azarenka of Belarus in three hours and four minutes.
Badosa had 44 winners while overcoming 50 unforced errors while winning the prestigious event often referred to as the fifth Grand Slam.
Her lone previous victory came in May at the Belgrade Open in Serbia.
The 32-year-old Azarenka had 48 winners and 42 unforced errors while falling short. She won titles at Indian Wells in 2012 and 2016.
Badosa was fresh at the end of the battle and scored the first three points of the tiebreaker. She finished the match with a forehand winner.
–Field Level Media
