Teenage sensation Victoria Mboko has been offered the opportunity to make a landmark statement at the China Open.
Mboko stunned her peers by winning her first Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open in August, and is now considered one of the most promising prospects on the WTA Tour.
The 19-year-old boasts a powerful, accurate serve and a booming forehand, as well as a solid backhand and an ability to play her best when the pressure is at its highest.
Mboko will be looking to bounce back after losing in the US Open first round to Barbora Krejcikova, and she has an opportunity to do so at the China Open.
This opportunity has become even greater following the release of the China Open draw.
Victoria Mboko’s opportunity to shine
There are three key reasons why Victoria Mboko has been presented with a significant opportunity at the China Open.
First, her section of the draw is headlined by Qinwen Zheng. The Chinese star, while a formidable force, has not played a WTA match since Wimbledon due to elbow surgery.
Zheng is severely lacking in match practice, and if Mboko faces the world number nine in the fourth round, the Canadian will be the favourite to advance to the quarter-finals.
Danish 10th seed star Clara Tauson is also present in Mboko’s section of the draw. The 22-year-old has enjoyed an impressive year on the WTA Tour, winning the Auckland Open title and establishing herself as a top 20 player.
However, one must consider how well Tauson would play if she faced another young star so soon after being shocked by Alexandra Eala in the US Open first round.
Mboko and Tauson have been scheduled to face each other in the third round. If they do meet, Mboko has the ability and temperament to cause a shock, especially due to the potential US Open hangover Tauson may be suffering from.
If Mboko does navigate these hurdles, she has a further opportunity: to stake her claim as the best young star on the WTA Tour.
The China Open draw has revealed a potential clash concerning Mboko and Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals.
Andreeva and Mboko have achieved the most in their careers so far compared to any other teenage star.
The two players have never faced each other before on the WTA Tour, making this potential match a tantalising prospect.
Victoria Mboko’s second-round opponent
Victoria Mboko is seeded 21st at the China Open, meaning she has received a bye through to the second round.
In the second round, Mboko will face one of two players: Katerina Siniakova or Anastasia Potapova.
Mboko has played Potapova once before. At the Washington Open, Mboko defeated the Russian 6-2, 6-4.
The Canadian has never faced Katerina Siniakova.
