Two Canadian tennis players, Denis Shapovalov and Victoria Mboko, have successfully moved on to the second round of the Australian Open. This achievement marks a significant highlight for Canadian tennis as the tournament progresses.
Denis Shapovalov Advances
Denis Shapovalov triumphed over wild card Bu Yunchaokete from China. The 26-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ontario, is seeded 21st in this year’s tournament. He is set to face Croatian player Marin Cilic in the next round.
Shapovalov’s performance has been notable. In 2022, he reached the quarterfinals, where he lost to Rafael Nadal, the tournament’s eventual champion. This year, Shapovalov stands as the only Canadian left in the men’s singles category after Felix Auger-Aliassime, Gabriel Diallo, and Liam Draxl exited in the first round.
Victoria Mboko’s Impressive Debut
Victoria Mboko, the 19-year-old from Toronto, also made headlines by defeating Australia’s Emerson Jones in just 72 minutes. As the 17th seed, she will next compete against American player Caty McNally in the second round.
Mboko has quickly made a name for herself in professional tennis. She earned the WTA Newcomer of the Year title last season after a stunning victory over Naomi Osaka at the Canadian Open in Montreal. Although she participated in all three previous Grand Slam tournaments, this marks her first appearance at the Australian Open.
Canadian Tennis Highlights
- Denis Shapovalov, 26, defeated Bu Yunchaokete
- Victoria Mboko, 19, defeated Emerson Jones in the first round
- Shapovalov is the 21st seed; Mboko is the 17th
- Shapovalov will face Marin Cilic next
- Mboko will play against Caty McNally in the second round
The advancement of Shapovalov and Mboko symbolizes a promising future for Canadian tennis in this year’s Australian Open.
