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Sabalenka was made to work for the first set, but ultimately prevailed 7-6 (7-0) 6-4 in one hour and 51 minutes.

The world number one was pushed all the way in an opening set in which she had to claw back three break points, while seeing four chances to get the better of Mboko's serve pass her by.

Sabalenka found her groove in the tie-break, though, emphatically winning it to love.

A vital break of serve arrived in game five of set two, nudging Sabalenka into the lead, and after fending off two break points to hold for 5-3, the top seed served out the win when Mboko sliced a backhand long.

Sabalenka, who lost to Mirra Andreeva in last year's title match, has rolled into a fourth straight Indian Wells Open semi-final.