Canada’s Mboko, Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov Advance at BNP Paribas Open
Victoria Mboko defeated Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 7-6 and joined Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov in advancing at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., a key day for Canada’s contingent. Friday at 2: 30 p. m. ET, mboko’s serving and break-point conversions set her up for a third-round meeting with No. 23 seed Anna Kalinskaya.
Mboko’s Straight-Set Win Over Birrell
The 10th-seeded Victoria Mboko beat Australia’s Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 7-6 in second-round action in Indian Wells. Mboko, who received a first-round bye, won seven aces against five double faults and converted five of her seven break-point chances. She also won 69 percent of first-serve points while Birrell managed two aces, four double faults and won 54 percent of first-serve points. The 19-year-old has reached finals in Adelaide and Qatar this season and advanced to the round of 16 at the Australian Open; she now faces No. 23 Anna Kalinskaya in the next round.
Auger-Aliassime Rallies Past Monfils in Three Sets
Félix Auger-Aliassime, the ninth seed, rallied to beat Gael Monfils 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 in his second-round match. Auger-Aliassime finished with 14 aces, four double faults, 34 winners and 29 unforced errors; Monfils had 12 aces, five double faults, 31 winners and 21 unforced errors. The Canadian saved two break points and won two of five break-point opportunities; Monfils saved three of five but won none of his two break chances. Auger-Aliassime will next play the winner of the match between 17th-seeded Andrey Rublev and Gabriel Diallo of Montreal.
Shapovalov Edges Etcheverry, Draws Jannik Sinner Next
Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont. defeated No. 29 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 in a second-round match. Shapovalov produced 14 aces, nine double faults, 43 winners and 49 unforced errors, and he won 40 points while receiving; Etcheverry had four aces, no double faults, 14 winners and 25 unforced errors. The win sends Shapovalov into a meeting with No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner in the round of 32.
Separately in doubles play, Mboko paired with Mirra Andreeva to upset the fourth-seeded team of Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 in the opening round, advancing in the women’s doubles draw.
Diallo and Leylah Fernandez are scheduled to play their second-round singles matches on Saturday; specific match start times were not provided in the report. More match-time details are expected before play begins Saturday, March 7, 2026, with schedules typically finalized the morning of competition.
