Aryna Sabalenka Advances to Semifinals
Aryna Sabalenka has been a prominent player on the WTA Tour, achieving significant milestones in her career. On March 12, 2026, she continued her impressive run by defeating Victoria Mboko 7-6(0), 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open held in Indian Wells.
This victory marks Sabalenka’s third career semifinal at the BNP Paribas Open, further solidifying her status as a leading competitor in women’s tennis. Notably, she saved all five break points she faced during the match, showcasing her resilience and skill under pressure.
Sabalenka’s current form is remarkable, as she has reached six consecutive semifinals on the WTA Tour. Her performance at Indian Wells is particularly significant, given her previous runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2025.
In the match against Mboko, Sabalenka demonstrated her prowess in tiebreaks, claiming a 7-0 tiebreak in the first set, which was the first time she achieved such a score at tour level in her career. She currently holds a perfect 4-0 record in tiebreaks for the year 2026.
Victoria Mboko, only 19 years old, struggled with her serve, committing eight double faults throughout the match. Despite this, she managed to save seven out of eight break points she faced, indicating her potential as a rising star in tennis.
After the match, Sabalenka praised Mboko, calling her a future Grand Slam champion, highlighting the young player’s talent and promise. “I think all of those young kids who’s on tour right now, they all have a huge potential to be Grand Slam champions,” Sabalenka remarked.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka’s next opponent in the semifinals will be No. 14 seed Linda Noskova. This matchup is anticipated to be a challenging encounter, as both players are in strong form.
Sabalenka’s ability to maintain focus and intensity has been a key factor in her success. “I feel like the moment (when) I will feel relaxed, I will definitely start losing. So I felt that’s why I have been really successful in those tiebreaks, because I take it really serious,” she stated, reflecting on her competitive mindset.
As the tournament progresses, observers will be keen to see if Sabalenka can continue her impressive streak and secure a place in the finals.
