Victoria Mboko has continued her impressive start to the season, knocking out defending champion Madison Keys to advance to the semifinals of the Adelaide International. In a hard-fought match that lasted over two hours, the 19-year-old Canadian emerged victorious with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. This win marks Mboko’s third consecutive three-set match this week, showcasing her resilience and determination.
Facing a set and a break down against Keys, who clinched the Adelaide title in 2022, Mboko demonstrated remarkable composure. Although Keys initially took control, the reigning Australian Open champion faltered in the decisive final set, allowing Mboko to capitalize with five straight games after Keys held serve to open the set. The defending champion struggled with her performance, accumulating 41 unforced errors and facing 12 break points that ultimately led to her downfall.
Reflecting on the match, Mboko expressed respect for Keys’s accomplishments, acknowledging the challenge of competing against such a seasoned player. “I knew coming into this match that it would be a big fight,” she stated. Her victory not only advances her into the next round but also signifies her second Top 10 win, further establishing her status on the WTA Tour.
Mboko will now face Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, another unseeded player who has also made it to the semifinals after a grueling three-set match against Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian. Birrell, aged 27, secured her spot with a 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 victory, marking her first career semifinal appearance in a WTA 500 event. Despite losing a 5-2 advantage early in the match, she showed great determination by rallying back to win.
On the other half of the tournament, 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva dominated her quarterfinal match against Maya Joint, allowing her opponent just two games as she cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 win in just 67 minutes. Andreeva, seeded third, will face her former doubles partner Diana Shnaider in the semifinals, after the ninth seed defeated Emma Navarro 6-3, 6-3.
The Adelaide International continues to be a showcase for rising talents, with young players like Mboko and Andreeva asserting themselves against seasoned competitors. Fans can look forward to intriguing matchups as these players aim for their first titles of the season, promising exciting tennis in the semifinals ahead.