Aryna Sabalenka Set to Face Victoria Mboko in BNP Paribas Open Quarterfinals Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, will compete against Victoria Mboko, ranked No. 10, in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The match is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California. Sabalenka and Mboko previously met at the 2026 Australian Open, where Sabalenka secured a straight-sets victory. The contest will be broadcast on Tennis Channel and streamed live on FuboTV and DIRECTV, both offering free trials. Sabalenka, who has maintained her top ranking in women’s tennis, has been making headlines beyond the court. During a post-match interview following her round-of-16 victory over Naomi Osaka, she introduced her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Ash, as a key member of her support team. Sabalenka credited the puppy with providing “mental health support,” helping her stay calm and focused amid her history of on-court emotional outbursts. “Whenever I feel like going crazy on my team, I just pet Ash and I feel better,” she said, as commentators on Tennis Channel held and petted the dog. The dog’s presence has become a recurring topic in Sabalenka’s public appearances. She recently shared news of Ash on social media, calling the puppy a “new addition” to Team Tiger, her group of coaches, trainers, and staff. Sabalenka also revealed that she had a deal with her coach, Anton Dubrov, to get a dog if she won last year’s U.S. Open. While she initially considered a Dachshund, she chose a spaniel, citing her mother’s fondness for the breed and the breed’s reputation as a good family dog. Sabalenka named her puppy Ash as a tribute to American tennis legend Arthur Ashe, after whom the U.S. Open’s main court is named.#aryna_sabalenka #bnparibas_open #tennis_channel #victoria_mboko #ash
