Victoria Mboko’s stunning rise into the upper echelons continues, with the Canadian teenager claiming a 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3 victory over the higher-ranked Clara Tauson to progress to the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time.
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It follows a year in which the 19-year-old has climbed from outside the world’s top 300 to arrive at her current career-high No.16 ranking. After competing in lower-level events in the Caribbean at the same time last year, Mboko is making her Australian Open main-draw debut.
“It’s my first time playing, so I feel like what’s not to enjoy,” Mboko beamed with her new career milestone secured. “You’re in Australia, it’s warm. It’s not so warm back home [in Canada]. It’s nice to be here.”
After straight-sets wins over Australia’s Emerson Jones and USA’s Caty McNally, Mboko showcased impressive composure in her three-set win over 14th-ranked Tauson, who was crowned Australian Open girls’ champion in 2019.
Over two hours and 20 minutes, Mboko withstood 33 winners from Tauson and registered 28 of her own.
The Canadian held three match points in the second set before the Dane extended the contest, Mboko eventually securing her progress with a backhand volley winner on her fourth match point.
It set a fourth-round meeting with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, who advanced in two tiebreak sets against Anastasia Potapova.
It’s been a good fortnight for American tennis and yet another of their youngsters enjoyed a breakthrough moment on Friday when Iva Jovic toppled seventh seed Jasmine Paolini.
The 18-year-old held her nerve down the stretch to get through 6-2 7-6(3) for a first top 10 win and plays Yulia Putintseva on Sunday in her first fourth round match at a major.
Putintseva ended the run of Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3 in a topsy-turvy two hours and 43 minutes.
Known for her explosive personality, the feisty Kazakh doesn’t mind taking on a crowd, and as she was being loudly booed by the KIA Arena fans after sealing victory she performed a victory dance and blew kisses towards the Sonmez supporters.
Czech talent Karolina Muchova is cruising through the draw nicely and produced one of the performances of the day to completely outplay Poland's Magda Linette 6-1 6-1 on the same court later on.
The 19th seed and 2021 semifinalist can prepare for a meeting with world No.3 Coco Gauff on Sunday after the former US Open and Roland-Garros champion hit back to beat fellow American Hailey Baptiste 3-6 6-0 6-3.
More to follow...