Victoria Mboko is off to a successful begin in her first conventional occasion of 2026.
The Canadian, seeded eighth, rallied to beat Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 on Monday within the first spherical of the Adelaide Intnerational.
“It’s by no means simple to play her,” Mboko stated after the match in opposition to the world No. 39, per the WTA Tour. “She’s such a proficient participant. It was such a tough match for me, so to get by as we speak was … I really feel relieved somewhat bit.
“She has a number of selection in her recreation, she’s tremendous aggressive and may hit a really heavy ball. Truthfully, I simply needed to face my floor as a lot as I probably might. She hit some superb photographs, too, so I’ve to provide her credit score for that. However on the finish of the day, I simply needed to carry it there as a lot as I might and combat actually arduous each level.”
Mboko, the world No. 17, cut up a pair of singles matches on the United Cup workforce occasion final week. The 19-year-old is coming off a breakthrough yr wherein she received her first profession tour-level occasions, together with her dramatic triumph on the Nationwide Financial institution Open Introduced by Rogers in Montreal.
Mboko will subsequent face world No. 33 Anna Kalinskaya of Russia on Tuesday on the Australian Open tune-up occasion.
Canada’s Leylah Fernandez faces No. 8 seed Diana Shnaider of Russia within the opening spherical on Tuesday.
On the boys’s aspect, Canada’s Gabriel Diallo faces qualifier Andrea Vavassori of Italy on Tuesday within the first spherical.
Australian Open qualifying
Marina Stakusic was the one one among 4 Canadians to win on Monday within the first spherical of Australian Open qualifying.
The native of Mississauga, Ont., downed Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain 6-3, 6-2.
Canada’s Cadence Brace, Kayla Cross and Alexis Galarneau all misplaced their openers.
Canada’s Liam Draxl and Carson Branstine play first-round qualifying matches Tuesday.
Gamers have to win three qualifying matches to be assured entry into the principle draw of the season’s first Grand Slam, which opens this weekend.
