Aryna Sabalenka has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open as she continues her bid to reclaim the title.
But her path does not get any easier. Up next is a meeting with one of the sport’s rising stars, Victoria Mboko.
The Canadian announced herself last year by winning her first Masters 1000 title on home soil, surprising everyone with her run.
That breakthrough was not a one-off. She is now into the fourth round at Melbourne Park in what is her debut appearance in the main draw.
Aryna Sabalenka talks about facing Victoria Mboko at the Australian Open
Speaking ahead of the match, Aryna Sabalenka admitted she has never had a chat with Mboko, much less played against her.
Still, she knows what the young Canadian brings to the table. The Belarusian said: “I never actually talked to her, never had chance to hit, to practice with her. I only seen her outside. I was watching some matches. Yeah, she’s a great player. She’s a fighter. She’s playing really good, aggressive tennis.”
Asked how she might have handled similar expectations at a young age, Sabalenka reflected: “I feel like maybe for me, like, it would be really tough to handle the success at young age. But I feel like now seeing these girls, so like young age achieving so much, playing such a great tennis, being really mature; it’s incredible.
“I feel like they mature much faster than, for example, on my example, than I did. It’s incredible to see how actually, like, smart they are and the approach is really, really good. They have a great team around them. It’s cool to see.”
The Belarusian also pointed out that this match presents a different kind of challenge – facing an opponent who seems to have nothing to lose.
“Yeah, that’s the challenge,” Sabalenka said.
“They go out there and they have nothing to lose. But also, at the same time, I don’t believe that mentality that they have nothing to lose because I’ve been in their shoes. You still go out there with hopes that you’re going to win this one, you’re going to be the young one to win the slam. They still have something to lose.
“For me, I’ll have the same approach. Doesn’t matter what my opponents are feeling like, or what they are experiencing, for me it’s the same. I have to go out there, I have to bring my best tennis and fight for every point. That’s my approach.
“Once again, she’s an aggressive player. She’s playing really great tennis. Really heavy shots. I’m also quite experienced, quite aggressive.
“I know it’s going to be a great battle. I’m super excited to face her for the first time.”
Victoria Mboko’s breakthrough year
As touched upon, 2025 really was a breakout year for Mboko.
However, her season did not start with her home title. The teenager had already been enjoying strong form leading up to that moment.
Mboko fought through the qualifiers at both the French Open and Wimbledon, reaching the third and second rounds respectively, in what were her debuts at those tournaments.
She also pushed Coco Gauff to the limit in Rome, earning praise from the 21-year-old American afterwards for her performance.
It was Mboko’s Canadian Open win that truly put her on the map, and she looks set to carry that momentum into 2026.
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