Victoria Mboko’s maiden Australian Open main-draw run continued past the second round on Tuesday, and she has yet to drop a set at the year’s first Grand Slam.
The Canadian No. 1 sailed to a 6-4, 6-3 win over American Caty McNally in round two, reaching the third round of a Slam for the second time.
Mboko initiated the break frenzy that went down on Melbourne Park’s 1573 Arena. The 19-year-old forced the match’s first loss of serve and, despite being broken back, she sealed the first set on return. The second featured five breaks, including a string that put Mboko down 0-3, but the world No. 16 broke four-straight times en route to taking the match in a little over an hour and a half.
In the fourth game, Mboko managed to turn 2-1, 40-15, into a break opportunity that she converted but, in the ensuing game, the Canadian found herself in a 15-40 hole. After saving one break point with a powerful forehand winner, Mboko was broken back and the opener was quickly even again at 3-3.
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The loss of serve was the only blimp she faced on her delivery in the first as the Canuck conceded just one point over her next two service games, later putting the pressure on McNally to serve to extend the set.
At 4-5, 15-30, Mboko raced from one side of the court to the other to deliver an outstanding passing shot on the run to set herself up with double break and set point. The Burlingtonian watched as the American’s forehand found the net, handing Mboko the opener.
McNally’s push to force a decider got off to an ideal start, beginning the second with back-to-back breaks to hold a 3-0 advantage. However, as some of her past National Bank Open opponents are familiar with, no lead is safe against Mboko. At 3-0, 30-40, the Canadian unleashed a backhand winner to break back, firing up the teen in her comeback quest.
Mboko then turned the set on its head with three more breaks to follow and held the chance to serve for the match at 5-3. On her second match point, Canadian No. 1 recorded her very first ace of the day, clinching a place into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since her major debut at Roland-Garros last season.
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Mboko’s round-three opponent will be No. 14 seed Clara Tauson, with potential to meet world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.
The Canuck will be in doubles action again Wednesday night, as she and her fellow teen Iva Jovic got off to a winning start together in Melbourne. Mboko and Jovic face No. 4 seeds Shuai Zhang and Elise Mertens in round two.
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Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
