Mboko’s Upset Buries Keys’ Adelaide Defense
Under the relentless Adelaide sun, 19-year-old Victoria Mboko weathered Madison Keys’ power surges to claim a hard-fought three-set victory, setting up a semifinal rematch with hometown wildcard Kimberly Birrell.
Victoria Mboko’s charge through the Adelaide International picked up steam on Thursday, as the 19-year-old Canadian unseated defending champion Madison Keys in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 quarterfinal that stretched to 1 hour and 53 minutes. This marked her third three-setter in as many matches at the WTA 500 event, a grueling rhythm that tested her endurance on the medium-paced hard courts. Mboko’s second career Top 10 win came against an opponent fresh from the 2025 Australian Open title and a 2022 Adelaide triumph, turning the script on Keys’ title defense with a blend of tactical patience and opportunistic baseline fire.
From an early set and break advantage, Mboko watched Keys mount a comeback, the American’s aggressive returns slicing through her serve in the second set. Yet the eighth seed regrouped in the decider, reeling off five straight games after Keys held to open it, capitalizing on 41 unforced errors and six service breaks from 12 break points. The crowd’s energy shifted with each prolonged rally, Mboko’s heavy topspin forehands forcing Keys into stretched defenses that exposed cracks in her rhythm.
“I know she won this tournament last year, and of course, Australian Open, and I knew coming into this match that it would be a big fight,” Mboko said afterwards. “I think there was one moment in the second set where she hit three return winners off my serve, so that was pretty humbling. She is where she is for a reason, and I think to play these kind of players, you have to get used to receiving those kinds of balls. It was great tennis from her, and I’m glad I got it done.”
Mboko bends but holds firm
Mboko’s adaptability shone through as she mixed crosscourt backhands with down-the-line passes, disrupting Keys’ inside-out forehand patterns that usually dominate faster surfaces. The Plexicushion’s grip allowed her to slide into position for a probing 1–2 setup, her serve kicking up topspin to set up angles that pulled the American wide. This victory, building on her breakout WTA 1000 title in Montreal last August, positions her for a third career final on the WTA Tour, all since that home-soil run where she first toppled Kimberly Birrell in the opening round.
Keys’ nine aces highlighted her serving edge, but the mounting errors betrayed the mental strain of a packed schedule, her body language tightening as Mboko reset after every setback. The Canadian’s composure under pressure echoed the psychological edge she gained from those Montreal battles, now carrying her deeper into Adelaide with the Australian Open on the horizon. For the latest, follow the Adelaide: Scores, Adelaide: Draws, and Adelaide: Order of play.
Birrell ignites home comeback
Waiting in the semifinals is wildcard Kimberly Birrell, the 27-year-old Gold Coast resident and World No. 107, who clawed her way to her first WTA 500 semifinal with a 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 epic over Jaqueline Cristian. The match lasted 3 hours and 4 minutes, Birrell squandering a 5-2 first-set lead but storming back to win the final three games, her underspin slices pinning the Romanian in extended exchanges. With two WTA 250 titles already under her belt, Birrell fed off the local crowd’s roar, turning resilience into a breakthrough on these familiar courts.
This rematch adds layers of intrigue, Birrell’s flat-hitting style thriving on the surface speed while Mboko’s tactical depth could force errors in tight moments. The Australian’s fighting spirit, evident in her recovery from that early setback, mirrors Mboko’s own grit, promising a semifinal where home advantage clashes with rising momentum. As both players eye deeper runs before Melbourne, their contrasting paths—youthful poise versus seasoned comeback—could redefine the tournament’s undercard.
“I just kept telling myself to keep trying and fighting for every point,” a breathless Birrell said afterwards. “When I came back out for the second set, I just told myself that I’ll get those opportunities again if I kept fighting.”
Mboko enters as the favorite, her recent upsets building a narrative of quiet confidence, but Birrell’s home fire ensures no easy path. The Plexicushion will amplify their rallies, testing who first blinks in the pressure cooker of a potential final berth.
