Australian Open Victoria Mboko qualified for the round of 16

(Melbourne) Canadian Victoria Mboko reached the fourth round of a major tournament for the first time in her career on Friday.

The 19-year-old Torontonian defeated Danish Clara Tauson 7-6 (5), 5-7 and 6-3 at the Australian Open.

Mboko dropped a set for the first time in three outings at Melbourne Park.

Ranked 16^e in the world, Mboko won in 2 hours and 20 minutes against Tauson, 14^e at the WTA. This was their first professional encounter.

A backhand volley gave victory to the Ontarian, on her fourth match point.

Mboko overcame nine double faults, still accumulating six aces.

Author of five breaks, she won 65% of the points contested on her first serves. Tauson had five aces and five breaks, committing four double faults.

“I had so many opportunities in the second set… it all came down to confidence,” commented the 19-year-old who had three match points in the second set.

“When you have match points and you don’t make them happen, it can be very painful psychologically, so I’m very happy to have stayed in the match,” she added.

Next opponent, Aryna Sabalenka

Mboko’s next rival will be none other than the number 1 in women’s tennis, Aryna Sabalenka.

The Belarusian triumphed at the first stage of the Grand Slam in 2023 and 2024 – and also at Flushing Meadows, in 2024 and last year.

In 2025, Mboko was the champion at the National Bank Open in Montreal, as well as at the Hong Kong tournament.

On Friday, the Canadian took a 2-0 lead in the deciding game. The score moved to 2-2, but Tauson made two unforced errors and Mboko followed up with a point on a strong serve. Once the count was 5-5, the Dane sent a ball to the net, then Mboko settled the set with a forehand winner.

In the second round, the table notably showed 3-3 and 5-5. A break gave priority to Tauson then, at 12^e game, an ace helped her earn the set to create a stalemate in the match.

Mboko took control 4-1 in the last set, then racing towards victory.

In doubles, Gabriela Dabrowski, of Ottawa, and Luisa Stefani, of Brazil, defeated Elsa Jacquemot of France and Emiliana Arango of Colombia, 6-2, 6-4.

With Agence France-Presse