Mboko Faces Sabalenka Again in Indian Wells Quarterfinal

Canadian teen Victoria Mboko looks to upset world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka after their Australian Open meeting

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, who has risen rapidly through the ranks, will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Mboko, 19, is making her first appearance in the Indian Wells quarterfinals after defeating Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round. She previously faced Sabalenka at the Australian Open, where she lost in straight sets, but is hoping to push the Belarusian even further this time around on the slower hard courts of Indian Wells.

Why it matters

Mboko's meteoric rise through the WTA rankings, reaching the top 10 in just 13 months, has been one of the most impressive storylines in women's tennis over the past year. Her ability to challenge the world's best players, including Sabalenka, at such a young age is a testament to her talent and potential. This quarterfinal matchup will provide further insight into Mboko's development and whether she can pull off a major upset against the dominant world No. 1.

The details

Mboko, currently ranked No. 16, defeated former French Open finalist Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-1 in the fourth round to set up the rematch with Sabalenka. In their previous meeting at the Australian Open, Sabalenka won 6-1, 7-6(1), but Mboko said she felt she didn't hit the ball 'thoroughly' enough to trouble the world No. 1. This time, Mboko hopes to keep Sabalenka from pushing her off the court as often and test the Belarusian's defenses more effectively.

  • Mboko and Sabalenka will face off in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday, March 16, 2026 at approximately 2 p.m. ET.
  • Mboko reached the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time at the 2026 Australian Open, where she lost to Sabalenka in the fourth round.

The players

Victoria Mboko

A 19-year-old Canadian tennis player who has risen rapidly through the WTA rankings, reaching the top 10 in just 13 months. She is making her first appearance in the Indian Wells quarterfinals after defeating Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round.

Aryna Sabalenka

The current world No. 1 women's tennis player from Belarus. Sabalenka is the defending champion at the BNP Paribas Open and is the heavy favorite to reach the semifinals after cruising through the early rounds.

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What they’re saying

“I just try to come to terms that with every tournament I play, it's not going to be maybe the way I want it to [be]. But I just want to give 100 percent effort, and there is always a lesson to learn.”

— Victoria Mboko

“I would say lefties are always tricky to play against. Just the way he can change the the height of the ball. He has a really flat backhand and really topspin forehand. So you can be a little bit confused sometimes with how it's gonna come, the ball, to you.”

— Carlos Alcaraz, World No. 1

What’s next

The winner of the Mboko-Sabalenka quarterfinal will advance to the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open, where they will face either Jessica Pegula or Elena Rybakina.

The takeaway

Victoria Mboko's rapid rise to the top of women's tennis has been one of the most compelling storylines of the 2026 season. Her ability to challenge the world's best players, including a rematch with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, will provide further evidence of her immense potential and the possibility of a major upset at Indian Wells.