NEW YORK — Victoria Mboko faced a tough initiation at the US Open, bowing out in the first round after a 6-3, 6-2 defeat against Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic on Monday.
This match marked Mboko’s first appearance since her triumphant victory at the National Bank Open in Montreal just weeks ago.
The talented young athlete from Toronto, who is set to celebrate her 19th birthday tomorrow, entered Flushing Meadows as the 22nd seed in the women’s draw.
Her opponent, Krejcikova, is a seasoned competitor and two-time Grand Slam champion, having clinched the Wimbledon title last year.
The former world No. 2 initiated the match with an early break and maintained control to finish in just one hour and 23 minutes.
“Naturally, I’m a bit disappointed with the loss today, but when I reflect on it, I acknowledge that Barbora is a formidable opponent with a remarkable background,” Mboko expressed.
“She has a distinctive playing style with plenty of variation and is incredibly smart on the court. I felt I might have rushed my play a bit; I need to take my time between points to find my rhythm and play at my best.”
“I’m eager to learn and grow from this experience and view this match as an opportunity for personal development.”
Throughout the match, Mboko appeared to struggle with discomfort in her wrapped right wrist, which she had injured during a fall in the semifinals of the National Bank Open.
“I had a previous injury from Montreal when I took a tumble. I decided to tape it for the US Open to keep it stable and manageable for today’s match,” she explained.
“With a break until the Asia swing, I aim to ensure my fitness is on point and take care of my wrist over the next few days. I hope to be fully ready by then.”
In a remarkable rise, she climbed from a world ranking of 348 in December to an impressive 24th position after capturing her first WTA title.
“If you had told me last year that I would be seeded at the US Open or even participating, I would have been overjoyed,” Mboko shared.
“I’m thrilled about my progress. I see this as the beginning of a long and exciting journey.”
During the match, play was briefly interrupted in the first game of the second set as Krejcikova, Mboko, and officials searched for Krejcikova’s missing racket dampener near her chair.
“It did disrupt the flow a bit, but I managed to stay focused,” Mboko said.
“I tried to stay centered and ready for the next point while we resolved the issue. It was a momentary pause, but I kept moving and stayed engaged.”
Later that evening, Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo survived a grueling three-hour and 19-minute battle against Damir Dzumhur from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The 31st seed, despite committing 71 unforced errors, managed to secure a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory in his first-round men’s singles match.
Diallo achieved 74 percent success on his first serve with only two double faults. He saved two of five break points and converted three of nine break opportunities. Additionally, he won 34 percent of his return points.
With 59 winners compared to Dzumhur’s 22, Diallo excelled while Dzumhur struggled with 40 unforced errors.
Diallo’s next challenge is against Jaume Munar of Spain, who triumphed over Jaime Faria of Portugal with a score of 6-0, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 on Monday.
