Indian Wells WTA Quarter-Final Previews: Sabalenka vs Mboko | Noskova vs Gibson

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Welcome back to the channel tennis fans.

We are here to preview the upcoming quarter final in Indian Wells

between Irina Sabalenka and Victoria Ombocco.

An eagerly anticipated semi-final and I would say that's possibly been added to

after their straight sets wins today.

We'll reflect on those shortly.

We'll also look at the head to head as you can see on the screen right now.

It's one zero in favor of Irina Sabalenka.

We'll also look at the pedigree of the two players, the form that they're in

and where this match could be won and lost.

Let's start with that head to head.

One zero as I highlight before.

22 career titles for Irina Sabalenka.

Just the two from Bocco but Bocco very much the beginning of her career

compared to Sabalenka who is arguably at the peak of her powers

as she seeks her first win.

First title win at Indian Wells.

As I said, Sabalenka very much at the peak of her powers and age 27.

These are the best years I would argue of your tennis career in your late 20s

when you're really hitting your peak.

Ombocco has got that all to come and yet Ombocco CV already includes

a WTA 1000 title earned last year in Canada.

She also has just broken into the top 10 in recent months.

So a lot to look forward to for Victoria.

Sabalenka though probably has even loftier ambitions for 2026.

I'm sure she'd like to add to her slam tally and I'm sure she'd be keen

to add an Indian Wells title to her CV not yet there.

They're only matched by the way.

Did come on the hard courts and it came very recently in Australia.

Sabalenka there really made hard work of that second set.

There were moments in the second set when it looked like it was going to be a comfortable

two-set win for Arena.

But Ombocco fought hard just as she had done in the previous round of Cloud of

Towson forced that second set tie break.

But Sabalenka in tie breaks we know what a beast she is in those circumstances

and she proved it once again against Ombocco.

And so 6176 was that only match that they've had and therefore an only win for Sabalenka.

Sabalenka by the way in terms of her form coming into this.

Well, she got to the Australian open final as we know.

This is her first tournament since then and she hasn't dropped a set on route to the quarter finals.

Dispensing of Sacca Sumi Christian and Osaka today in that performance.

Osaka.

I guess Osaka today.

Probably the best one that she's put in since the Australian open.

She was just too strong for Naomi serving so well.

Returning as well as she can as well.

I put a maybe second or third best server in the world and maybe best returner in the world.

I'd love to hear your comments in the section below.

As for Ombocco, by the way, she has also not dropped a set on route to the quarter finals.

So something is definitely going to be giving there.

And she was especially impressive in her straight sets.

Win over and it's him off the date.

She served beautifully.

And Anna Simova couldn't just couldn't just couldn't get in on the Ombocco servant.

Ombocco was also returning well and was hitting so well with fine margins.

And I think there's no glaring weakness in Ombocco's game, which for someone so young

is mightily impressive.

Ombocco seated 10, Savilenka 1.

In terms of their pedigree, of course, in the desert Ombocco.

This is the first time she has appeared at this stage.

As for Savilenka, well, her pedigree is very much therefore to see two finals.

2023 and tight loss in straight sets to Elena Rebecca.

But that one last year, I think, even more painful for arena having led by a set over

middle and driver, her less experienced opponent.

I think Savilenka thought that that was the title for there for her to take.

And that's been the case for so many of the titles

that arena was just missed out on in the last 14 months.

Think back to that Australian open.

She's serving at five, six.

Could easily just hold serve there and get to a tie break against Madison Keys and win the title.

Think to the French open final when she's got the upper hand against Coco Gough

before the wind ultimately derailed her in the third set.

Think about the semi-final at Wimbledon lost anisimov, a fine, fine margins,

ultimately winning the US open.

And then again, she's up a break in the third set against her backena

in this year's Australian open.

So so many titles just slipped through her fingers and the Indian Wells one of a year ago,

also the case.

And I think she'll be desperate to write that wrong at this year's Indian Wells.

Will she do so against Fintori and Bockel and get to another semi-finals in the desert?

Yeah, I think she does.

But let's go for three very close sets and maybe she'll have to bring that

tie break prowess once again to the four.

Looking at the upcoming quarter final between Taliya Gibson and Linda Noscava.

Yes, you heard me right, Taliya Gibson and Linda Noscava.

Taliya Gibson, what a run she is having in the desert.

Well, these two players have never played each other before.

Noscava's run to the final.

She's not dropped a set on route.

She's beaten.

Noscava's route to the final, by the way, has seen her beat.

Buzas Menero in her opening match before then beating Castella from a set down.

And then today coming over Alexiara, 626 love,

overcoming Alexiara, 626 love, very impressive Noscava there, playing with excellent margin,

returning so well, but also serving really well.

In fact, her second serve was especially impressive against Alex.

As Alex wasn't able to get in really on that serve,

only getting one point across the two sets.

And yeah, the second serve, winning more points on second serve than her first,

but also playing with the margin that I think Alex wasn't quite able to deal with.

So she's looking good.

As for Taliya Gibson, well, her run to the semi-final has been sensational.

She was a set down in qualifying to Caliava, by the way, and on the brink of defeat,

before coming back to win 4, 6, 7, 5, 6, 3.

She then beat Anne Lee in the round of 128.

By the way, another qualifying win that she had was overbringled,

but that one was much more comfortable in straight sets.

But yeah, she then beats Anne Lee in straight sets.

She then beats Alex Androva in straight sets,

but a match that I called in terms of the prediction I made.

She came as well, very close to defeat against Clara Towson in the round of 32,

but she upset the game.

And then I predicted it to beat Paulini because of her form in the desert,

but also her form prior to the Australian Open.

I think she was shown some good signs.

She is now inside the top 100 as well, Gibson.

Irrespective of what happens against Moscow.

And that win against Paulini.

I think she hit 18 winners in the third set,

as she impressively ran it off a three-set win with a six-one third set.

They've not played each other before,

Noskiver and Gibson.

And I think Noskiver is easing into what I think might well end up being

the best year of her career.

It's a short-lived career thus far, of course,

for the Czech and another incredible player.

It's unbelievable to think, by the way,

bearing in mind their experience on the main tour,

that actually they have the same age.

Both of them, 21.

In fact, Gibson is a few months older than Linda.

Linda won't be 22 until November.

Tali will turn 22 in June.

Both of them might hand us,

but as you can see, Noskiver's career high of 12,

Gibson will be inside the top 100.

Irrespective of what happens in this match,

come the end of it.

But I think Noskiver is going to be in the top 10.

I think she's going to be in the top 10 very soon.

In fact, she might even be in the top 10

after Indian Wells, particularly as Minivan Draver,

is likely to drop out of the top 10.

In fact, let's have a quick look at the live ranking right now.

See where Noskiver is in the live rankings.

I wouldn't be surprised if she's about to break into the top 10

possibly after this tour.

Well, she's currently hovering at 14.

But a semi-final birth might well see her squeeze into the top 10,

depending on how the other players pan out.

Of course, Paulini's lost today,

but I think she should still stay inside the top 10.

But I think Minivan Draver might well be vulnerable,

either Mukiver or Noskiver to checks their

vying for a place in the top 10.

But the question is,

does she beat Talia Gibson?

Yeah, she does, and in straight sets.

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