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Victoria Mboko aims for a magical (Italian) night with Aryna Sabalenka

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Victoria Mboko won her way to a challenge with Aryna Sabalenka, the current world number one ranking, in the fourth round of the Australian Open. The 19-year-old Canadian showed great coolness in the decisive moments of a very high-tension confrontation, imposing 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3 over the number 14 seed Clara Tauson.

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Not gone unnoticed Belarusian outfielder Aryna Sabalenka at the'debut in Melbourne
She left her mark among those present not only for the way she played and for her grit
Earrings, necklace, tattoo… as well as colorful clothing prepared for her by her technical sponsor
On the court, then, the world’s number 1 tennis player unleashed all her grit
In fact in the first set French Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah gave her a hard time
The 20-year-old transalpine took the luxury of snatching service from her strongest rival immediately
Obviously the Belarusian gave her back her serve in the next game

So the queen of world tennis, while not mind-blowing, took home the set with a score of 6-4

In the second segment of the game Sabalenka engaged the high gears and for the rival there'was little to do
The set ended with an eloquent and otherwise not unpredictable 6-1 in favor of Aryna
Rakotomanga, world number 118, was on the board thanks to a wild card
Aryna once again brought her experience and extraordinary effectiveness to bear on Australian concrete…
… so, happy and smiling, she posed for a selfie to dedicate to millions of fans

Accredited with the 17th seed, the athlete born of Congolese parents showed remarkable mental maturity in a high-level match between two youngsters on the rise. Despite some missed opportunities to close out the match, the Canadian fought back with authority in the final set after serving for the win at 5-3.

This success earned her her first career qualification to the round of 16 of a Slam tournament. Until now, her best result remained the third round at Roland Garros last season, achieved by starting from the qualifiers. Now, on the Italian night leading up to Saturday and Sunday, she awaits two-time champion Sabalenka, fresh from a far from easy victory over naturalized Austrian Russian Anastasia Potapova, which she overcame with two tie-breaks.

“I had so many chances in the second set, but I have to give kudos to my opponent: she was playing incredible tennis, so I had to stay focused in the important moments,” Victoria said after the match.

“When you have opportunities like that, you’re ahead in the match and you have a chance to close but you can’t, it can be very disheartening – added the North American -. But that’s what the third set is for: I was able to pull myself together, find my rhythm and bring it home. … Today I really fought all the way.”

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