Back where she earned her first-ever WTA Tour victory a year ago, Victoria Mboko returned to the Miami Open presented by Itaú in dominant fashion.
The 19-year-old from Burlington had to wait through two rain delays before cruising to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Anna Blinkova in round two on Friday.
The Canadian No. 1 was the clear aggressor in the match, finishing with 32 winners compared to Blinkova’s five. Mboko also dominated on return as she converted on all but one of her seven break points, including a string of four-straight from 2-5 that led her to the win in under an hour.
Mboko was off to a hot start in Miami. The Burlingtonian conceded just a single point in the opening two games, firing five winners as part of her aggressive start, as she went up an early break. However, a few unforced errors led to Blinkova breaking back to cut the deficit to 1-2. Before the world No. 92 could equalize, the rain returned and play was halted.
Mboko put the pressure on right away following the rain delay, holding two break points and converting to regain her advantage, though, it didn’t take long until play was suspended again.
The Canadian fought off a break point on the next point after the second rain delay, eventually managing to hold to increase her lead to 4-1. Mboko then turned 2-5, 30-love, into the set as the 19-year-old battled through the pair of rain delays to wrap up the opener in 35 minutes.
The second set featured clearer skies and smooth sailing for Mboko. The Canuck held Blinkova to just four points in the world No. 92’s first two service games, mounting a comfortable 4-0 advantage.
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At 0-5, 15-30, Mboko pounced on Blinkova’s next two deliveries, powering back-to-back return winners and sealing her place into round three.
The Canadian No. 1 will either meet No. 22 seed Anna Kalinskaya for the second-straight event or world No. 74 Anastasia Zakharova in the round of 32.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
