Victoria Mboko lost to Aryna Sabalenka 6-7, 4-6 in the quarterfinals of Indian Wells.
The Canadian is now 0-2 against the Belarusian, having lost to Sabalenka, 1-6, 6-7, at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Mboko pushed Sabalenka closer this time, but failed to force her into a deciding set.
Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek… who do you prefer? 🤔
After the match, Mboko revealed what it’s really like playing against the world number one.
Victoria Mboko admits she was ‘overwhelmed’ the first time she played Aryna Sabalenka
During her post-match press conference, Mboko commented on her quarterfinal defeat.
“I had a lot of chances in the first set. And, I mean, it’s unfortunate that I was unable to kind of take them,” she said.
“But she was playing really well, especially on pressure points. I’ve got to give credit to her there.
Victoria Mboko vs Aryna Sabalenka – Match stats
| Stats | Aryna Sabalenka | Victoria Mboko |
| Aces | 6 | 3 |
| Double faults | 3 | 3 |
| 1st Serve % | 68% | 67% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 64% | 50% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 59% | 47% |
| Break points | 4/5 | 2/6 |
| Total points won | 75 | 56 |
“I feel like sometimes I was, maybe one or two points away from kind of maybe changing how the first set would have went and changing the momentum.
“But yeah, that’s something I could work on for the next time.”
Mboko believes she played better against Sabalenka at Indian Wells than she did in Melbourne.
“I do think it was a bit better than Australia. I feel like the first time I played her, I was kind of overwhelmed with everything else happening, being on the center court for the first time,” she said.
“Of course, it’s never easy to play the world number one.
“But coming into this match, I feel like having played her, you kind of know what to expect.
“So I think it was an overall improvement, and there are still things I could improve on.”
The 19-year-old knows what she needs to work on in training to compete with the big-hitters on tour.
“I think just little things in my game, whether it’s my serve, my return, and the balls that I am able to hit that can make a big difference when playing against big hitters like her,” said Mboko.
“I feel like in this tournament, I have played against a lot of big hitters.
Victoria Mboko at Indian Wells in 2026
- 2026 Indian Wells 2R [WIN] vs Kimberly Birrell, 6-4, 7-6
- 2026 Indian Wells 3R [WIN] vs Anna Kalinskaya, 6-4, 6-1
- 2026 Indian Wells 4R [WIN] vs Amanda Anisimova, 6-4, 6-1
- 2026 Indian Wells QF [LOSS] vs Aryna Sabalenka, 6-7, 4-6
“I mean, yeah, it’s just some things I can do in training where next time I’m faced with adversity like this, I know I’m more prepared.”
Mboko knows she still has work to do, but is certainly heading in the right direction…
Victoria Mboko on course for new career-high ranking
As things stand, Mboko will reach a new career-high ranking of ninth on Monday.
She could, however, drop back down to tenth if Linda Noskova wins the Indian Wells title.
Live WTA Rankings
| Rank | Name | Country | Points | Indian Wells performance |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | 10,415 | SF vs Linda Noskova |
| 2 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan | 7,523 | SF vs Elina Svitolina |
| 3 | Iga Swiatek | Poland | 7,413 | Lost in QF vs Elina Svitolina |
| 4 | Coco Gauff | USA | 6,748 | Lost in 3R vs Alex Eala |
| 5 | Jessica Pegula | USA | 6,678 | Lost in QF vs Elena Rybakina |
| 6 | Amanda Anisimova | USA | 6,180 | Lost in 4R vs Victoria Mboko |
| 7 | Jasmine Paolini | Italy | 4,232 | Lost in 4R vs Talia Gibson |
| 8 | Elina Svitolina | Ukraine | 4,020 | SF vs Elena Rybakina |
| 9 | Victoria Mboko | Canada | 3,351 | Lost in QF vs Aryna Sabalenka |
| 10 | Mirra Andreeva | Russia | 3,066 | Lost in 3R vs Katerina Siniakova |
| 13 | Linda Noskova | Czechia | 2,801 | SF vs Aryna Sabalenka |
What’s more impressive is where she sits in the ‘Live WTA Race’.
Mboko has accumulated the fifth most points of anyone in women’s tennis this year, and looks on course to make her WTA Finals debut.
Live WTA Race
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan | 2,833 |
| 2 | Jessica Pegula | USA | 2,190 |
| 3 | Elina Svitolina | Ukraine | 2,190 |
| 4 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | 2,190 |
| 5 | Victoria Mboko | Canada | 1,712 |
| 6 | Karolina Muchova | Czechia | 1,555 |
| 7 | Mirra Andreeva | Russia | 1,248 |
| 8 | Coco Gauff | USA | 1,045 |
| 9 | Amanda Anisimova | USA | 1,010 |
| 10 | Iga Swiatek | Poland | 1,010 |
There is, of course, a long way to go before the WTA Finals begin, but things are looking good for Mboko.
She will look to improve her standing when she returns to action at the Miami Open next week.
The 2026 Miami Open main draw begins on Tuesday, March 17.
