Defending champion Madison Keys faced a surprising defeat in the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International, losing to Canada’s rising star Victoria Mboko in three sets. Mboko, ranked 17th in the world at just 19 years old, secured a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory over the ninth-ranked Keys. In a match lasting nearly two hours, Mboko displayed strong serving and clinched the win by capitalizing on her opportunities.
Mboko, the eighth seed, took the lead by breaking Keys early in the match to claim the first set. Despite Keys’ strong performance in the second set, Mboko’s effective serving and strategic play in the final set secured her the win. Following her victory, Mboko acknowledged Keys’ past successes but expressed her satisfaction with the hard-fought match.
Keys, the winner of the Adelaide International in 2025 and a Grand Slam champion, will now focus on defending her title at the upcoming Australian Open. Meanwhile, Mboko is set to face Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in the semifinals after Birrell’s impressive comeback win against Jaqueline Cristian. Birrell’s resilience and strong performance in the three-hour match earned her a spot in her first WTA 500 tournament semifinal.
Mboko’s remarkable ascent in the rankings this season, highlighted by her victory in Montreal and significant ranking improvement, has been a notable storyline. Her success has earned her recognition as the WTA Newcomer of the Year, solidifying her position as a rising star in the tennis world.
