Australian Open 2026: Aryna Sabalenka holds off next-gen talent Mboko to reach quarter-finals

Aryna Sabalenka played the tiebreak tyrant again as she saw off Canadian youngster Victoria ‍Mboko 6-1 7-6(1) to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the fourth time in a row.

Two-time champion Sabalenka crushed Mboko in a 31-minute first set in the early match at Rod Laver Arena, but conceded a 4-1 lead in the second as the 17th seed staged an impressive comeback.

“What an incredible player for such a young age,” the Belarusian said of 19-year-old Mboko.

“It’s incredible to see these kids come out on tour.

“She pushed me really hard today. Super happy with the win… and happy that I got through it.”

Unable to challenge Sabalenka during a seven-match losing streak, Mboko turned the match around with a furious attack on the world number one’s serve.

Twice broken, Sabalenka had to scrap to take the second set to a tiebreak, but from then on she was unyielding.

She took a 6-0 lead and sealed the match when a scrambling Mboko sent a forehand over the baseline.

After her 7-6(4) 7-6(7) victory over Anatasia Potapova in the previous match, Sabalenka has now made it 22 tiebreak victories in a row, including 19 in a row last year.

Mboko played on center court for the first time at a Grand Slam and left her main draw debut at the Australian Open with an improved reputation.

There were no signs that Mboko was intimidated early on as she attacked Sabalenka’s serve with gusto, forcing her to save two break points in the opening match.

But that was as good as it got for the Canadian in the first set, when Sabalenka broke her three times, hitting ⁠15 winners and ending the match with a volley.

Sabalenka took a 2-0 lead in the second set in a seven-match winning streak before Mboko held serve.

The Canadian had the crowd in the palm of her hand as she rallied and later saved three match points by serving back at 5-4.

However, Sabalenka remained steady to cruise through the tiebreak and set up a quarter-final against the winner of Iva Jovic and Yulia Putintseva.