The result marks the first time a Canadian woman has reached the last eight at the California event since Bianca Andreescu captured the title in 2019.
Speaking during her on-court interview after the match, the 19-year-old described the experience as a series of career firsts.
“I’m experiencing a lot of things for the first time,” Mboko said. “To be out here playing Top 10 players, playing the best in the world, it’s really a privilege. I’m so happy to be competing at the highest level. Just keep going.”
Currently ranked world No. 10, Mboko has now secured three consecutive victories over Top 10 opponents. Her recent form has been equally impressive at WTA 1000 tournaments, where she has won 15 of her last 18 matches—a streak that began with her breakthrough title run on home soil in Montreal last summer.
The fourth-round clash against Anisimova began as a closely contested battle. Both players held serve through the opening six games, leaving the score tied at 3-3. The breakthrough came when Mboko delivered a precise backhand that clipped the line, forcing a mis-hit from her opponent and earning the Canadian the first break of the match for a 4-3 lead.
From that moment, the momentum swung decisively in Mboko’s favour. She surged through the remainder of the contest, claiming 10 of the final 12 games to seal a comfortable straight-sets victory.
Match statistics underscored her dominance. Mboko finished with 14 winners against just seven unforced errors, while Anisimova recorded 14 winners but committed 16 mistakes. The Canadian also converted all four of her break-point opportunities and successfully saved the only break point she faced—doing so in dramatic fashion with three consecutive aces while serving at 2-1 in the second set.
“I knew Amanda’s a really good player,” Mboko said. “I tried to match her pace and just stay with her as much as possible. I’m glad to have gotten it done.”
Her latest Top 10 win follows victories over Mirra Andreeva and Elena Rybakina during her run to the final in Doha earlier this season.
Mboko now faces a major test in the quarterfinals against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Naomi Osaka earlier in the day.
Sabalenka also holds the edge in their only previous meeting, defeating Mboko in the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year. Although Sabalenka took the first set comfortably and led 4-1 in the second, the Canadian mounted a spirited comeback before eventually falling 6-1, 7-6 (1).
With momentum on her side and confidence growing, Mboko’s breakthrough campaign in Indian Wells now sets up one of the tournament’s most anticipated quarterfinal clashes.