Victoria Mboko produced a stunning display to dispatch Madison Keys from the Adelaide International.
Keys won the tournament last year and was the top seed for the 2026 event following Jessica Pegula’s withdrawal, but her time at the Adelaide International was ended in the quarter-finals.
Mboko has been tipped for a big Australian Open and she impressed against Keys to earn just the second top 10 win of her entire career.
Despite the landmark victory, Mboko revealed she felt humbled by Keys during an important moment in the match.
Victoria Mboko says she was humbled by Madison Keys despite eye-catching win
Mboko took the first and third set to knock out the current Australian Open champion by a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 scoreline.
The Canadian was delighted with the win, but claimed Keys’ quality shone throughout the match despite her loss.
Pick your Australian Open dark horse!
“I know she won this tournament last year, and of course, Australian Open, and I knew coming into this match that it would be a big fight,” she said on-court after the match.
“I think there was one moment in the second set where she hit three return winners off my serve, so that was pretty humbling.
“She is where she is for a reason, and I think to play these kind of players, you have to get used to receiving those kinds of balls. It was great tennis from her, and I’m glad I got it done.”
Mboko will play wild card Kimberley Birrell in the semi-final of the Adelaide International, with Mirra Andreeva playing Diana Shnaider in the other semi-final.
Victoria Mboko breaks new ground on the WTA Tour
Mboko’s 2025 was a real breakthrough, particularly with her landmark Masters victory at the Canadian Open.
The star slumped a little after her win in Montreal, but she ended the season on a high by winning the Hong Kong Open.
Mboko’s three match wins to start 2026 mean she has now conjured an eight-match unbeaten streak on the WTA Tour.
Do you think women should play best-of-five set matches?
The WTA Tour is arguably as tough and competitive as it has ever been, which makes Mboko’s latest achievement even more impressive.
The Canadian could be a real dark horse for the Australian Open and no one will want to play her in Melbourne.
The star has been drawn against another hotly-tipped teenager in the first round of the Australian Open: Australia’s Emerson Jones.
