Aryna Sabalenka on Whether Women’s Tennis is Moving in the Right Direction

Aryna Sabalenka has set up a quarterfinal match against Victoria Mboko.

Aryna Sabalenka on Whether Women’s Tennis is Moving in the Right Direction

Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/HQ Pics)

In Short
  • Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarterfinals of Indian Wells after defeating Naomi Osaka.
  • Sabalenka expressed optimism about the progress of women's tennis regarding equality and promotion.
  • She will face Victoria Mboko next, who previously defeated Osaka in the Canadian Open final.

Aryna Sabalenka has inched closer to her first Indian Wells singles title. On Tuesday (March 10), she downed Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals.

Sabalenka finished as runner-up in last year’s WTA 1000 event in the California desert, losing to Mirra Andreeva. The Belarusian is chasing her second title of the season, having won the Brisbane International. Sabalenka, following her fourth-round win, was asked to comment on whether she thinks there’s any inequality between men’s and women’s tennis.

I feel that we are on the right track, that we are moving in the right direction. We are treated equally, we are paid the same. In general, I think women’s sport has improved in growth and yes, I feel that we are going in the right direction. I’m happy with most things, even with the programming, with the prize money, and all that. It would probably do a little better to promote our sport. I love the way the ATP promotes and how the ATP’s marketing works. I feel like this is the gap where we can improve and bring more attention and more looks towards women’s tennis.

Prior to arriving in Indian Wells, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion skipped both the WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai (she also didn’t have many points to defend). Apart from the Brisbane WTA 500 event, the 27-year-old also reached the final of the Australian Open, but failed to win her third singles title in the tournament, losing to Elena Rybakina.

Aryna Sabalenka met Naomi Osaka for only the second time in her career

Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka have been part of the WTA tour for a long time, but despite that, they met just once before their latest clash. They had played each other in the fourth round of the 2018 US Open, which Osaka won before she reached the final and defeated 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams.

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (Image via X/Tiempo De Tenis)

At the press conference after her fourth-round Indian Wells win, Sabalenka explained why she didn’t get many chances to face Osaka.

But I feel like I started doing better when she got pregnant. I think that’s why we didn’t have many opportunities to face each other, and I’m pretty sure we’ll face each other many more times. I’ve changed a lot since then. A lot of things have happened to me, and I’ve become a better player and a better person. I control my emotions better, I have more experience, and I’ve won some Grand Slams. I feel like I’m a completely different person now than I was when we played in 2018.

Sabalenka will next be up against Victoria Mboko, who knocked out two-time Grand Slam finalist Amanda Anisimova. It was the Canadian ace whom Sabalenka defeated in the fourth round of this year’s Australian Open.

Mboko had defeated Osaka in the final of last year’s Canadian Open to win her career’s first WTA 1000 title. The 19-year-old also made the final of this year’s Qatar Open (that too in her maiden appearance) but failed to defeat Karolina Muchova. Mboko is also competing in Indian Wells for the first time in her career.

The winner of the match between Sabalenka and Mboko will lock horns with qualifier Talia Gibson or Linda Noskova. Sabalenka has so far won nine WTA 1000 singles titles, the last of which she clinched at the 2025 Madrid Open by defeating two-time Grand Slam singles champion Coco Gauff. The last time she won a Big Title was at the 2025 US Open by beating Anisimova.

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