Sabalenka hails ‘amazing’ Mboko after battling win

ARYNA Sabalenka fought off one teenage challenger but now finds another in her path at the Australian Open.

- ELEANOR CROOKS

Aryna Sabalenka, left, and Victoria Mboko shake hands following their fourth-round match in Melbourne

(Mark Avellino/Anadolu/Getty Images)

World number one Sabalenka looked to be cruising to victory against 19-year-old Victoria Mboko at 6-1, 4-1 only for the Canadian to show just why she is so highly rated.

Mboko saved three match points at 5-4 but Sabalenka regrouped and won a 20th consecutive grand slam tiebreak in dominant fashion to claim a 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) victory.

‘The world number one was hugely impressed by Mboko, who is now on the verge of the top ten, saying: “She's an amazing player. It was quite a fight. I'm super happy that I was able to close this match in straight sets. The second set was a bit tricky. But I'm happy with the level I played. Happy to be through”

Next up for Sabalenka is an even younger opponent in American Iva Jovic, who only turned 18 last month.

The teenager followed up her maiden top-ten win against Jasmine Paolini by swatting aside Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 in 53 minutes.