Dora eliminates Anisimova 6-4, 6-1 in the sixteenth round at Indian Wells
Amanda Anisimova of the United States was seeking her first desert title and third in the desert 1000 level. Last season, she won her first two: Doha (d. Ostapenko) and China (d. Noskova). Her opponent, Canada’s Victoria Mboko, won for the first time on clay in Montreal (d. Osaka) last August and was a finalist (d. Muchova) last month in Doha.
Anisimova, only twenty-four years old, reached two Grand Slam finals last season (Wimbledon & US Open), achieved a career high rank of #4and voted 2025 WTA Most Improved Player. She is currently ranked and ranked sixth.
Mboko, just nineteen, was voted out 2025 Newcomer of the year. She started last season ranked #333done #18and is currently ranked at a career level of #10.
This was their first tournament-level meeting. Anisimova won the forehand and elected to serve. She reached game point in 40-30 with a spectacular forehand run but faced five points before holding her first ace. It was a harbinger of things to come as she repeatedly struggled to hold serve while Mboko was at love with two straight groundstroke winners.
Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images via Agence France-Presse
The American gave away three unforced errors and faced deuce but held for it 2-1while the Canadian held 30 to level. Anisimova opened the fifth with an incredible inside forehand and two more winners, held at 30 ABOUT 3-2.
Mboko, with impeccable court coverage, transitioned seamlessly from defense to offense. She opened the sixth with a colossal forehand on the inside, and though she gifted two double faults and faced trickery, she held on for 3-3 with a monster serve tee.
Anisimova continued to have success when she came to the net, but dropped her serve after four unforced errors in a row. Mboko, serving with new balls gave away another double fault, but with her first ace on 118 mph, easily maintained 15 to consolidate the break for 5-3.
Anisimova serving to hold the set opened with an ace out and ahead 40-15 but faced the trick before he got out. It was a remarkable display of poise, power and precision as Mboko handled it with ease 15 to secure the kit.
Anisimova, irritated and frustrated as the unforced errors continued to mount, dropped serve to open the second. Mboko opened with a first half-volley winner and a second ace, held easily 15 to consolidate the break.
Anisimova served her first double fault but got on the board with three winners, including two aces out. Mboko made two consecutive backhand faults to open the fourth and faced a break point after her fourth double fault but held on with three straight aces.
The stadium erupted in cheers and applause as the teenager continued to impress as the veteran continued to struggle. Anisimova succeeded once again 40-30 but dropped serve on the second double fault.
Mboko lost 3/6 first serve, including her fifth double fault, but held 30 to consolidate the break for 5-1. Anisimova broke as she served to stay in the match. She faced triple match point after two consecutive backhand faults and conceded it with a backhand error.
Mboko captivated the crowd with her incredible movement, powerful serve and fearsome groundstrokes. She advances to the quarterfinals on her tournament debut with her fifth top-ten win. the world #10 is the first Canadian to reach the final eight since Bianca Andreescu won the title at the age of nineteen. 2019.
Then, the world #1. Aryna Sabalenka won their only previous meeting in a draw last January at the Australian Open. With a place in the penultimate round on the line, this promises to be an intense and high-octane encounter between two of the game’s elite.
