It is a special night for the fans in Canada as their 18-year-old budding star stunned one and all with a thumping performance at WTA Montreal.
Teenage sensation Victoria Mboko, a local at the ongoing Canadian Open, beat former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin in straight sets 6-2 6-3 in just a little more than an hour.
Mboko shines in Montreal
Not many believed that this match would go in the Canadians’ favor, considering the experience Kenin holds. However, Mboko was rock solid and defied all predictions. In both her matches so far, the Canadian made sure she didn’t get overawed by the opportunity to play on centre court in a home masters event.
Mboko sent down 12 aces and was an immovable force on serve. This is after she sent down 15 aces a couple of days back in her first round win over Kimberly Birrell. In comparison to Mboko’s 12, Kenin could not send down a single service winner, and her win percentage dwindled around the 50 percent mark on first serve.
Mboko’s return game was also pinpoint as she broke the Kenin serve on four separate occasions. In reply, Kenin could get past the Canadian’s service game only once. One can already take notice of the fact that Mboko’s power game is suiting her well on the fast courts of North America.
The Canadian is making significant strides in her short career thus far.
This is already Mboko’s fifth Top 50 win on tour, and so far, her most special, as she brought about this performance in front of her home crowd. She has also qualified for the third round in a master’s event for the first time. She will be up against Czech player Marie Bouzkova, who herself knocked out 14th seed Diana Shnaider.
With Bouzkova being a little vulnerable on serve, Mboko, with her heavy serve armoury, should be a favorite to win this clash and move into the fourth round.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – Imagn Images
