TENNIS: Teen sensation Mboko sparkles in Melbourne to book Sabalenka matchup

MELBOURNE – Victoria Mboko did not set high expectations for herself heading into her first Australian Open, but the Canadian teen achieved a major milestone on Friday by reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

The 19-year-old earned her place in the round of 16 after defeating Clara Tauson 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-3 at Melbourne Park. Her reward is a first-ever meeting with world number one Aryna Sabalenka, with a spot in the quarterfinals at stake.

Mboko first gained international attention when she became the youngest player since Serena Williams to beat four major winners in one tournament, helping her win last year’s Canadian Open in Montreal. She has continued to impress in Australia after a strong run to the Adelaide final.

Her victory over the 14th-seeded Danish player Tauson marked her best Grand Slam result so far.

“I didn’t really expect that,” Mboko said with a smile. “Sometimes I just say things just to say it, just throw it out there. But no, every tournament I play I always want to do well. It’s my first fourth round in a Grand Slam. It’s my first time playing the Australian Open. This is a really cool experience.”

Mboko added that she had no pressure on herself because she had never played at the tournament before.

“I didn’t have any expectations on myself since I’d never been here before,” she said. “But it’s really cool to have played so many matches on stadiums.”

A Journey of Firsts

Born in the United States to parents who fled political unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mboko moved to Canada as a child. She began playing tennis at age four on courts in Ontario.

She is expected to face top seed Aryna Sabalenka on Sunday, likely at the iconic Rod Laver Arena.

“I’ve never played a current number one in the world,” Mboko said. “That’s going to be a different experience. I assume we’d be playing on Rod Laver as well. I’ve never played on a Grand Slam center court either. A lot of firsts.”

Mboko said playing top-level opponents has helped her develop a stronger, more aggressive style, especially when competing on major stages.

Her power game was evident during last year’s French Open, where she reached the third round despite being ranked 350th at the time.

“A lot more people have more experience than I do, so whether you win or lose, learning a lot can come into play,” she said. “I haven’t had a full season yet on the WTA Tour, but so far having played a lot of matches, it’s helped me adapt. I’m always going to play someone older than me. They’ve been playing longer than I have.”

“I think it’s those experiences that get me through.”

-Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters