ADELAIDE, Australia — Lower than per week earlier than the beginning of her Australian Open title protection, Madison Keys misplaced within the Adelaide Worldwide quarterfinals on Thursday to rising Canadian expertise Victoria Mboko.
The 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 loss to Mboko adopted her loss to world primary Aryna Sabalenka within the quarter-finals of final week’s Brisbane Worldwide, which she defeated at Melbourne Park final 12 months to win her first Grand Slam singles title.
Keys was the defending champion at Adelaide.
Mboko, the eighth seed, broke Keys early on his option to successful the primary set, however was unable to match Keys’ huge serves within the second set. Keys, the second seed within the WTA 500 match, hit eight aces within the match, together with six within the second set.
Mboko received 75% of his first serve factors within the third set and transformed his solely break level. She’s going to face Australia’s Kimberly Birrell within the semi-finals.
Mboko received the Nationwide Financial institution Open in Montreal, improved his rating from 333rd originally of the season to 18th, and was named WTA Newcomer of the 12 months.
The Australian Open begins on Sunday. Keys will face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Olnikova within the first spherical of this 12 months’s first main. Mboko will face Emerson Jones (Australia) within the opening match.
