California, March 13 -- Aryna Sabalenka described Victoria Mboko as a "future Grand Slam champion" after holding off the Canadian teenager to maintain her bid for a first Indian Wellstitle, but two-time winner Iga Swiatek went out.
Mboko pushed world number one Sabalenka hard in the opening set, but the Belarusian dominated the tie-break before finally cracking the 19-year-old's serve in the fifth game of the second set on the way to a 7-6 (7-0) 6-4 win.
Sabalenka, a two-time runner up at Indian Wells, praised her opponent's bravery and said she has "no doubt" Mboko is destined for great things, according to BBC sport.
"A future star, a future Grand Slam champion, no doubt about that," Sabalenka said of Mboko. "It's incredible to see the...