Talented tennis teen causes Coco-lossal upset in Canada
Mboko dropped her racquet and covered her face in disbelief as the packed crowd leapt to their feet after the 18-year-old tournament wildcard sealed the 6-1 6-4 victory in just over an hour on Saturday (local time).
"Thank you, you helped me so much," she told the home crowd in French during an on-court interview.
Mboko called her first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event "incredible", especially after toppling reigning French Open champion Gauff.
The Canadian was helped along the way by her error-prone opponent, who never found her rhythm on serve and failed to convert any of her five break-point opportunities.
Gauff's sixth double fault set up match point, which Mboko converted when the American's backhand slice drifted into the net.
Despite her disappointment, Gauff hugged Mboko at the net and will look to regroup as she prepares to make a run at a second US Open crown next month.
In the quarter-finals, Mboko will face Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who scored a 7-5 1-6 6-2 win over China's Lin Zhu in a battle of unseeded players.
Earlier, ninth seed Elena Rybakina edged her way past Dayana Yastremska 5-7 6-2 7-5 in their fourth-round battle.
The Kazakhstani will next face another Ukrainian, 24th seed Marta Kostyuk, who came from behind to take out American McCartney Kessler 5-7 6-3 6-3.
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko has earned the biggest win of her tennis career, beating top seed Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Mboko dropped her racquet and covered her face in disbelief as the packed crowd leapt to their feet after the 18-year-old tournament wildcard sealed the 6-1 6-4 victory in just over an hour on Saturday (local time).
"Thank you, you helped me so much," she told the home crowd in French during an on-court interview.
Mboko called her first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event "incredible", especially after toppling reigning French Open champion Gauff.
The Canadian was helped along the way by her error-prone opponent, who never found her rhythm on serve and failed to convert any of her five break-point opportunities.
Gauff's sixth double fault set up match point, which Mboko converted when the American's backhand slice drifted into the net.
Despite her disappointment, Gauff hugged Mboko at the net and will look to regroup as she prepares to make a run at a second US Open crown next month.
In the quarter-finals, Mboko will face Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who scored a 7-5 1-6 6-2 win over China's Lin Zhu in a battle of unseeded players.
Earlier, ninth seed Elena Rybakina edged her way past Dayana Yastremska 5-7 6-2 7-5 in their fourth-round battle.
The Kazakhstani will next face another Ukrainian, 24th seed Marta Kostyuk, who came from behind to take out American McCartney Kessler 5-7 6-3 6-3.
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko has earned the biggest win of her tennis career, beating top seed Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Mboko dropped her racquet and covered her face in disbelief as the packed crowd leapt to their feet after the 18-year-old tournament wildcard sealed the 6-1 6-4 victory in just over an hour on Saturday (local time).
"Thank you, you helped me so much," she told the home crowd in French during an on-court interview.
Mboko called her first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event "incredible", especially after toppling reigning French Open champion Gauff.
The Canadian was helped along the way by her error-prone opponent, who never found her rhythm on serve and failed to convert any of her five break-point opportunities.
Gauff's sixth double fault set up match point, which Mboko converted when the American's backhand slice drifted into the net.
Despite her disappointment, Gauff hugged Mboko at the net and will look to regroup as she prepares to make a run at a second US Open crown next month.
In the quarter-finals, Mboko will face Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who scored a 7-5 1-6 6-2 win over China's Lin Zhu in a battle of unseeded players.
Earlier, ninth seed Elena Rybakina edged her way past Dayana Yastremska 5-7 6-2 7-5 in their fourth-round battle.
The Kazakhstani will next face another Ukrainian, 24th seed Marta Kostyuk, who came from behind to take out American McCartney Kessler 5-7 6-3 6-3.
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko has earned the biggest win of her tennis career, beating top seed Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Mboko dropped her racquet and covered her face in disbelief as the packed crowd leapt to their feet after the 18-year-old tournament wildcard sealed the 6-1 6-4 victory in just over an hour on Saturday (local time).
"Thank you, you helped me so much," she told the home crowd in French during an on-court interview.
Mboko called her first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event "incredible", especially after toppling reigning French Open champion Gauff.
The Canadian was helped along the way by her error-prone opponent, who never found her rhythm on serve and failed to convert any of her five break-point opportunities.
Gauff's sixth double fault set up match point, which Mboko converted when the American's backhand slice drifted into the net.
Despite her disappointment, Gauff hugged Mboko at the net and will look to regroup as she prepares to make a run at a second US Open crown next month.
In the quarter-finals, Mboko will face Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who scored a 7-5 1-6 6-2 win over China's Lin Zhu in a battle of unseeded players.
Earlier, ninth seed Elena Rybakina edged her way past Dayana Yastremska 5-7 6-2 7-5 in their fourth-round battle.
The Kazakhstani will next face another Ukrainian, 24th seed Marta Kostyuk, who came from behind to take out American McCartney Kessler 5-7 6-3 6-3.
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7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Aussie swimmer Meg Harris wins 50m freestyle gold with her eyes closed
Swimming with her eyes shut, Meg Harris has put a golden exclamation mark on Australia's world titles with victory in the women's 50m freestyle. Harris' gold medal on Sunday's last night of the titles in Singapore came amid silver medals to compatriot Jenna Forrester (women's 400m medley) and Australia's women's 4x100m medley relayers. Australia, with eight gold, six silver and six bronze, finished second on the medal tally behind the United States (nine, 11, nine). The 23-year-old Harris, who is partially deaf, was stunned at her success — not least, because she swims the entire lap with her eyes closed. 'It's normal for me,' Harris said of her shut-eye habit. 'I do it a lot in the 50m and in the 100m, I always do it on the second lap. 'So I'm not quite sure what it is, I do it in training as well, but I guess it's just like trying to focus on my stroke … not 100 per cent, that's just what happens.' Harris clocked 24.02 seconds to claim her first individual title in a career also featuring nine relay golds at Olympics and world championships. 'Stoked ... I have achieved what the dream that I've been dreaming of this whole time,' said Harris, who won silver in the event at last year's Paris Olympics. In the women's 400m medley final, Australia's Forrester finished second behind Canadian megastar Summer McIntosh, who won four gold medals in Singapore. Sam Short's illness-troubled titles finished with fourth place in the men's 1500m, Isaac Cooper was seventh in the men's 50m backstroke and Brendon Smith came last in the men's 400m medley. And the Dolphins' women's 4x100m medley team of Kaylee McKeown, Ella Ramsay, Alex Perkins and Mollie O'Callaghan took silver in the last race of the championships, won by the US in a world record time of three minutes 49.34 seconds. O'Callaghan was Australia's most successful swimmer of the meet with three gold medals and two silvers. Kaylee McKeown collected two golds, repeating her 100-200m backstroke double from last year's Olympics, plus a silver while Cam McEvoy became Australia's oldest gold medallist at a world titles, winning the men's 50m freestyle aged 31. Another veteran, 27-year-old Kyle Chalmers, won gold as part of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, and bronze in the individual 100m. Meanwhile, in the diving world titles in Singapore, Australia's Cassiel Rousseau won the men's 10m platform for the second time. The 24-year-old produced consistent excellence in Sunday night's final - he led after the first dive, was second after the next two, then held the gold medal position for the final three dives. Rousseau described his gold, which follows his victory in the event at the 2023 world championships, as 'unexpected'. 'It definitely feels amazing,' he said.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Harris puts gold stamp on Australia's swim world titles
Swimming with her eyes shut, Meg Harris has put a golden exclamation mark on Australia's world titles with victory in the women's 50m freestyle. Harris' gold medal on Sunday's last night of the titles in Singapore came amid silver medals to compatriot Jenna Forrester (women's 400m medley) and Australia's women's 4x100m medley relayers. Australia, with eight gold, six silver and six bronze, finished second on the medal tally behind the United States (nine, 11, nine). The 23-year-old Harris, who is partially deaf, was stunned at her success - not least, because she swims the entire lap with her eyes closed. "It's normal for me," Harris said of her shut-eye habit. "I do it a lot in the 50m and in the 100m, I always do it on the second lap. "So I'm not quite sure what it is, I do it in training as well, but I guess it's just like trying to focus on my stroke … not 100 per cent, that's just what happens." Harris clocked 24.02 seconds to claim her first individual title in a career also featuring nine relay golds at Olympics and world championships. "Stoked ... I have achieved what the dream that I've been dreaming of this whole time," said Harris, who won silver in the event at last year's Paris Olympics. In the women's 400m medley final, Australia's Forrester finished second behind Canadian megastar Summer McIntosh, who won four gold medals in Singapore. Sam Short's illness-troubled titles finished with fourth place in the men's 1500m, Isaac Cooper was seventh in the men's 50m backstroke and Brendon Smith came last in the men's 400m medley. And the Dolphins' women's 4x100m medley team of Kaylee McKeown, Ella Ramsay, Alex Perkins and Mollie O'Callaghan took silver in the last race of the championships, won by the US in a world record time of three minutes 49.34 seconds. O'Callaghan was Australia's most successful swimmer of the meet with three gold medals and two silvers. Kaylee McKeown collected two golds, repeating her 100-200m backstroke double from last year's Olympics, plus a silver while Cam McEvoy became Australia's oldest gold medallist at a world titles, winning the men's 50m freestyle aged 31. Another veteran, 27-year-old Kyle Chalmers, won gold as part of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, and bronze in the individual 100m. Meanwhile, in the diving world titles in Singapore, Australia's Cassiel Rousseau won the men's 10m platform for the second time. The 24-year-old produced consistent excellence in Sunday night's final - he led after the first dive, was second after the next two, then held the gold medal position for the final three dives. Rousseau described his gold, which follows his victory in the event at the 2023 world championships, as "unexpected". "It definitely feels amazing," he said. Swimming with her eyes shut, Meg Harris has put a golden exclamation mark on Australia's world titles with victory in the women's 50m freestyle. Harris' gold medal on Sunday's last night of the titles in Singapore came amid silver medals to compatriot Jenna Forrester (women's 400m medley) and Australia's women's 4x100m medley relayers. Australia, with eight gold, six silver and six bronze, finished second on the medal tally behind the United States (nine, 11, nine). The 23-year-old Harris, who is partially deaf, was stunned at her success - not least, because she swims the entire lap with her eyes closed. "It's normal for me," Harris said of her shut-eye habit. "I do it a lot in the 50m and in the 100m, I always do it on the second lap. "So I'm not quite sure what it is, I do it in training as well, but I guess it's just like trying to focus on my stroke … not 100 per cent, that's just what happens." Harris clocked 24.02 seconds to claim her first individual title in a career also featuring nine relay golds at Olympics and world championships. "Stoked ... I have achieved what the dream that I've been dreaming of this whole time," said Harris, who won silver in the event at last year's Paris Olympics. In the women's 400m medley final, Australia's Forrester finished second behind Canadian megastar Summer McIntosh, who won four gold medals in Singapore. Sam Short's illness-troubled titles finished with fourth place in the men's 1500m, Isaac Cooper was seventh in the men's 50m backstroke and Brendon Smith came last in the men's 400m medley. And the Dolphins' women's 4x100m medley team of Kaylee McKeown, Ella Ramsay, Alex Perkins and Mollie O'Callaghan took silver in the last race of the championships, won by the US in a world record time of three minutes 49.34 seconds. O'Callaghan was Australia's most successful swimmer of the meet with three gold medals and two silvers. Kaylee McKeown collected two golds, repeating her 100-200m backstroke double from last year's Olympics, plus a silver while Cam McEvoy became Australia's oldest gold medallist at a world titles, winning the men's 50m freestyle aged 31. Another veteran, 27-year-old Kyle Chalmers, won gold as part of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, and bronze in the individual 100m. Meanwhile, in the diving world titles in Singapore, Australia's Cassiel Rousseau won the men's 10m platform for the second time. The 24-year-old produced consistent excellence in Sunday night's final - he led after the first dive, was second after the next two, then held the gold medal position for the final three dives. Rousseau described his gold, which follows his victory in the event at the 2023 world championships, as "unexpected". "It definitely feels amazing," he said. Swimming with her eyes shut, Meg Harris has put a golden exclamation mark on Australia's world titles with victory in the women's 50m freestyle. Harris' gold medal on Sunday's last night of the titles in Singapore came amid silver medals to compatriot Jenna Forrester (women's 400m medley) and Australia's women's 4x100m medley relayers. Australia, with eight gold, six silver and six bronze, finished second on the medal tally behind the United States (nine, 11, nine). The 23-year-old Harris, who is partially deaf, was stunned at her success - not least, because she swims the entire lap with her eyes closed. "It's normal for me," Harris said of her shut-eye habit. "I do it a lot in the 50m and in the 100m, I always do it on the second lap. "So I'm not quite sure what it is, I do it in training as well, but I guess it's just like trying to focus on my stroke … not 100 per cent, that's just what happens." Harris clocked 24.02 seconds to claim her first individual title in a career also featuring nine relay golds at Olympics and world championships. "Stoked ... I have achieved what the dream that I've been dreaming of this whole time," said Harris, who won silver in the event at last year's Paris Olympics. In the women's 400m medley final, Australia's Forrester finished second behind Canadian megastar Summer McIntosh, who won four gold medals in Singapore. Sam Short's illness-troubled titles finished with fourth place in the men's 1500m, Isaac Cooper was seventh in the men's 50m backstroke and Brendon Smith came last in the men's 400m medley. And the Dolphins' women's 4x100m medley team of Kaylee McKeown, Ella Ramsay, Alex Perkins and Mollie O'Callaghan took silver in the last race of the championships, won by the US in a world record time of three minutes 49.34 seconds. O'Callaghan was Australia's most successful swimmer of the meet with three gold medals and two silvers. Kaylee McKeown collected two golds, repeating her 100-200m backstroke double from last year's Olympics, plus a silver while Cam McEvoy became Australia's oldest gold medallist at a world titles, winning the men's 50m freestyle aged 31. Another veteran, 27-year-old Kyle Chalmers, won gold as part of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, and bronze in the individual 100m. Meanwhile, in the diving world titles in Singapore, Australia's Cassiel Rousseau won the men's 10m platform for the second time. The 24-year-old produced consistent excellence in Sunday night's final - he led after the first dive, was second after the next two, then held the gold medal position for the final three dives. Rousseau described his gold, which follows his victory in the event at the 2023 world championships, as "unexpected". "It definitely feels amazing," he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Pallister and Boxall plotting to take down Ledecky and McIntosh after epic 800m final
It was the closest 800m race in history, from start to finish, with no swimmer gaining a clear lead at any stage. At the 400-metre mark, 0.18 seconds separated the trio. The 23-year-old's silver medal, wedged in between the greatest of all-time and a candidate to take that title one day, was arguably the greatest second place in Australia's world championship history. Until February, when McIntosh pinched a rare victory, Ledecky had not lost an 800m freestyle final for 13 years. She has won the past four Olympic gold medals in the event and is hoping to make it five in a row at a home Olympics in Los Angeles. There was not a single mention of Pallister in the New York Times article, which pitted this as a Saturday night showdown between Ledecky and McIntosh. Pallister made sure they knew her name by the end after dropping a five-second personal best. The Australian was just 0.36 seconds from beating Ledecky and 1.31 seconds clear of McIntosh, after being behind the Canadian at the last turn. It was such an unexpected and devastating result for McIntosh that she wondered aloud whether she would even take on the 800m event in LA, given her heavy program. Going into last month's Australian trials, having made the switch to Boxall's squad earlier in the year, Pallister's personal best was 8:15.11. She has now shaved 10 seconds off that, getting her lifetime best down to 8:05.98. In the past 10 years, Ledecky has lowered her world record by 3.27 seconds to 8:04.12. 'I didn't really feel like I was in it,' Pallister said. 'I was kind of just watching them to go about their business and I was kind of just on the side thinking, 'Oh, who's going to win?'' Boxall made global headlines four years ago with his viral celebration after Titmus downed Ledecky at the Tokyo Olympics in the 400m freestyle. The women's 800m freestyle now has a similar feel about it after Pallister laid down a marker and shocked the swimming world. Minutes after the epic final, World Aquatics called a press conference with Ledecky and Pallister. McIntosh was not there, while Ledecky's parents managed to find a seat up the back. Pallister sat next to Ledecky, who she has a great relationship with. At the table, Pallister glanced down at a printout of their splits. It looked like she could not believe what she was reading. Ledecky was asked about the Boxall factor – her long-time rival coach who once admitted to 'stalking' her at a meet 'in a good way', to study her habits. 'What Lani has done this year has been incredible,' Ledecky said. 'It definitely keeps you on your toes. It's going to be an amazing few years. Can't wait to see what she can do and can't wait to see what Ariarne can do. You guys are probably going to be training together, so that's pretty cool.' Not quite yet. Titmus is one of Australia's all-time greats but the only thing missing on her swimming CV is an Olympic gold medal in the 800m. She has two Olympic silver medals, in Tokyo and Paris, and was just 1.25 seconds behind Ledecky last year. Titmus has been commentating for Channel 9 and will return to the pool at some stage. Loading Boxall, always the showman, took his chance to stir the pot. He agreed to a rare television interview ahead of Pallister's 1500m final on Tuesday evening, with Titmus sitting on a panel back in the studio. We now know why. 'I want to talk to Arnie,' Boxall said, staring down the barrel of the camera. 'How was it watching? I just want to know. You're commentating and I haven't heard much. How's it been watching for the first time? You're not here at the world championships. [That is the] question for you. You can answer it on TV.'
