Mboko eliminates McNally 6-4, 6-3 to reach Australian Open 3rd round

It was a North American contest down under as Victoria Mboko from Canada faced off against Caty McNally from the United States. Mboko, in her Australian Open debut, is 19 years old, ranked a career-high of 16, and is seeded 17th.

She began last season ranked well outside the top 300, yet finished the year #18 on the heels of winning two titles, including the 1000-level event on home soil in Montreal. She concluded the season with a 250-level title in Hong Kong and, fittingly, was voted WTA newcomer of the year.

McNally, five years older, continues to climb back up the rankings following a chronic elbow injury that required surgery. Having achieved a career-high rank of #54 in 2023,  she is currently #85. Although she led the head-to-head 1-0, they last played almost two years prior.

REUTERS/Edgar Su

Under mild but breezy conditions, McNally won the toss and elected to receive. Mboko missed 3/5 first serves, including a double fault, but held to 15 while McNally held to 30 despite a double fault.

The Canadian donated two consecutive unforced errors yet held to 30 for 2-1, while McNally, despite two blistering winners, faced a break point and dumped serve. Mboko missed three consecutive first serves, including another double fault, and gave back the break with an errant backhand pass.

The American made 3/5 first serves and consolidated the break with an overhead and well-placed serve up the tee, while Mboko made 3/5 first serves and held easily to 15 for 4-3.

McNally served with new balls, faced a break point and deuce, but held following two consecutive errors from her opponent. Mboko regrouped admirably, holding to love with a brilliant backhand pass down the line. McNally, serving to stay in the set, opened with a winning serve and volley play but conceded it with three unforced errors, including her second double fault.

Mboko served first in the second but with three forehand errors, dumped serve. Incredibly, McNally consolidated the break for 2-0 despite two consecutive double faults, three deuce and a break point! Mboko, clearly frustrated by the dip in level, continued to struggle. She opened the third with three consecutive forehand errors, faced a triple break point, and dropped serve.

McNally up a double break appeared positioned to take the set but faced a break point following another double fault and dropped serve when Mboko ripped a backhand inside-in.

The world #16 opened the fifth with a netted backhand but held to 30 when her opponent did the same. McNally still up a break failed to make further inroads and dumped serve following two backhand errors and inspired play from her opponent.

Mboko serving with new balls and level at three, faced two deuce points and a break point but held with a monster forehand down the line and an overcooked forehand from McNally. The American  faced deuce, three break points, and dropped serve with her fifth double fault.

Mboko served for the match and though she missed three consecutive first serves, sealed it in straight sets with her first ace. While she intermittently lost focus, she reasserted authority and now finds herself in the third round of the season’s first grand slam.  

She’ll need to serve better if she hopes to progress to the round of sixteen. She won 60% of first and 58% of second serve points. She saved 4/7 break points while converting 5/10 and struck 16 winners to 25 unforced errors.

Next up, the 14th seed from Denmark, Clara Tauson, who came through a tough three-setter against Polina Kudermetova. This will be their first tour-level meeting with the Australian Open round of sixteen on the line.