Victoria Mboko got her Australian Open campaign underway with a straight-sets victory over home hope Emerson Jones.
Mboko defeated Jones 6-4, 6-1, to advance to the second round in Melbourne, where she will take on American star Caty McNally.
The Canadian played her opening match at the first Grand Slam of the year just two days after losing in the final of the Adelaide International.
She fell to Mirra Andreeva in the championship match of the WTA 500 event, losing 6-3, 6-1.
After the quick turnaround, Mboko delivered a fitness update in her post-match press conference following her win over Jones.
Victoria Mboko provides an update on her fitness
The 19-year-old said: “When I got the news I was playing on Monday, I was like, yeah, at least it’s better than Sunday.
“Glad that I got one day to rest in. I got to hit on Sunday when I got here. It was nice to get used to the courts.
“No, I felt pretty good on court today. I didn’t feel too super tired. Mentally I just wanted to put in my head that it’s a continuation of the tournament and not really think too much of having to sort of have a brand-new week, brand-new everything.
“Yeah, I just wanted to think that way and just roll with it,” said Mboko, who burst onto the scene last year after winning the Canadian Open.
Victoria Mboko’s first impression of the Australian Open
Mboko is making just her fourth Grand Slam appearance this month, and her first ever at the Australian Open.
When asked what her first impressions were of Melbourne Park, she said: “This is actually, like, my first time actually seeing the whole grounds because when I was here as a junior, we only got to see the NTC part, whatever side that is.
“It’s pretty big and it’s really nice seeing so many people coming to the match. I think my stadium was pretty packed.
“I mean, I know I played an Aussie. Seeing Canadians in there, so many Australians rooting for their player, it was just really nice to see. Yeah, it’s really cool having this be my first experience here.”
Mboko’s best Grand Slam result is a third-round finish, which she achieved at Roland Garros last season.
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