Teen Victoria Mboko produced the shock of the tournament when she defeated top seeds Coco Gauff to reach the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open in Montreal.
The 18-year-old Canadian, who received a joker sign in the main table, only needed 62 minutes to beat the two-time Grand SLAM champion with 6-1 6-4 and to continue her meteorical rise.
Mboko converted four of the five breaking points against Gauff and has now only dropped one set in four games at the tournament.
“When I entered the game, I was so locked up,” said Mboko.
“I tried to keep my calmness as much as possible, especially for so many people playing. This is a very special experience for me.”
She started the year in 333rd place in the world and continued to win 22 consecutive games without dropping a set on the way to securing five titles on the second Tier ITF tour.
Mboko went the tournament in 85th place, but the victory against Gauff will move her a maximum of 53rd, and in the quarterfinals she will be confronted with Jessica Bouzas Maleiro, ranked in just two places.
Gauff struggled again with her serve and committed six double mistakes to bring her tournament to 43 in three games.
“I think she will be very successful on tour. I am sure we will have many more fights in the future,” Gauff said.
In the meantime, second seed Iga Swiatek rode in the last 16 with a 6-2 6-2 victory against Eva Lys.
In Toronto, Casper Ruud suffered a 6-4 7-5 defeat against Karen Khahanov, before Top Zaad spent Alexander Zverev to the quarterfinals with a walkover victory against Francisco Cerundolo.
Fifth Seed Holger Rune threw away an early lead to lose 6-4 2-6 3-6 to the Australian Alexei Pofyrin.
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