Madison Keys suffered a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 loss to rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko in the Adelaide International quarterfinals on Thursday, January 15, just days before defending her Australian Open title. The defeat follows last week’s quarterfinal loss in Brisbane to top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who Keys defeated at Melbourne Park last year to claim her first Grand Slam singles championship.

Mboko, seeded eighth, broke Keys early to claim the first set but struggled to contain Keys’ powerful serve in the second, where Keys delivered six of her eight aces. In the decisive third set, Mboko won 75% of her first-serve points and converted the only breakpoint, securing the victory and a semifinal matchup against Australia’s Kimberly Birrell.

Mboko’s rise continues

Victoria Mboko, who began the season ranked No. 333, has rocketed into the spotlight with a WTA Newcomer of the Year award and a title at the National Bank Open in Montreal, raising her ranking to No. 18. Her impressive form has positioned her as one of the sport’s most promising young talents heading into the Australian Open.

Keys will begin her title defense in Melbourne on Sunday, drawn to face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova in the first round. Mboko will open against local hope Emerson Jones, setting up a potential early-season showdown between two players with momentum. [Associated Press]