NewKerala.com

Coco Gauff Powers Into Australian Open Third Round, Mboko Matches Best Slam Run

Coco Gauff advanced decisively to the third round of the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory over Olga Danilović. The win marks her 251st career WTA victory and sets up a third-round match against fellow American Hailey Baptiste. In another result, Victoria Mboko reached the third round of her first Australian Open, equaling her best Grand Slam performance. Mboko, playing with a wrapped knee, will next face 14th seed Clara Tauson.

Key Points: Gauff, Mboko Advance to Australian Open Third Round

  • Gauff wins 251st WTA match
  • Defeats Danilović in straight sets
  • Sets up all-American clash with Baptiste
  • Mboko equals Roland-Garros third-round run
  • Plays with wrapped leg after knee hyperextension
2 min read

Aus Open: Gauff seals fourth consecutive third-round appearance; Mboko equals best Grand Slam run

Coco Gauff dominates to reach the third round at the 2026 Australian Open, while Victoria Mboko equals her best Grand Slam performance.

"Gauff delivered a commanding performance at Margaret Court Arena, quickly asserting her dominance. - Match Report"

Melbourne, Jan 21

Coco Gauff smoothly advanced to the third round of the women's singles at the 2026 Australian Open, demonstrating an assertive performance on Wednesday at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne Park.

The world No. 3 secured her 251st WTA win, just two days after achieving her 250th career victory in the Grand Slam's opening round.

The two-time Grand Slam champion defeated Olga Danilović in straight sets, securing the win with scores of 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hour and 17 minutes. Gauff delivered a commanding performance at Margaret Court Arena, quickly asserting her dominance by winning five straight games in the first set.

Pulling Danilovic from side to side, the 21-year-old created space on the court with powerful shots, breaking serve to win the set 6-2 despite a late rally from her opponent. The second set repeated this pattern, with the third seed capitalising on unforced errors to lead 3-0.

Danilovic tried her best to re-engage in the match, but Gauff's quick return and anticipation gave her a vital advantage to secure the win.

The third round will feature an all-American matchup, with Gauff set to face Hailey Baptiste in what will be their second career meeting and first since 2023.

Seventeenth seed Victoria Mboko is through to the third round of her maiden Australian Open after a straight-sets win over American Caty McNally in Melbourne on Wednesday. The result equals her best performance at a Grand Slam, matching her third-round appearance at Roland-Garros last year.

Mboko has been competing in Melbourne with a heavily wrapped right leg and explained that it's a preventative measure to keep her knee stable after she hyperextended it last week at the Adelaide International, where she reached the final.

When third-round matches kick off on Friday, the talented right-hander will step onto court for a first-time meeting with Clara Tauson, the 14th seed who overcame Polina Kudermetova 6-3 3-6 7-5.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Great to see young talent thriving. But honestly, the article spends too much on Gauff and just a paragraph on Mboko's achievement. She's playing with a knee issue and reached a final last week – that's equally impressive! More balanced coverage, please.
S
Sarah B
The focus on athleticism and mental strength in these matches is what makes tennis so inspiring. Mboko playing through injury shows real grit. Hope her knee holds up!
V
Vikram M
Dominant performance by Gauff. When Indian players like Sumit Nagal or Ankita Raina play, they show similar fighting spirit. We need more Grand Slam success stories from India too! 🎾
R
Rohit P
Straight sets win in under 1 hour 20 minutes? That's some serious efficiency on court. Gauff is in top form. The third round should be exciting.
K
Kavya N
It's amazing to see such young athletes achieve so much. Both Gauff and Mboko are so talented. Wishing them both the very best for the next round! 👍

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50