Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko came from a set down to beat China’s Lin Zhu and give her country a 1-0 lead in their opening tie of the 2026 United Cup in Sydney on Sunday.
United Cup: Scores | Standings
Zhu, who won the only previous meeting between the two players, made a quick start by winning the first four games. The 31-year-old held that early advantage to close out the opening set 6-2.
Mboko, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 season, climbing from outside the top 300 into the top 20, regrouped in the second set. The Canadian won the first four games and took the set 6-2 to force a decider.
The 19-year-old dominated the final set without dropping a game to seal a 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory in 1 hour, 39 minutes.
It was Mboko’s sixth consecutive win on the WTA Tour after she ended 2025 on a five-match winning streak that earned her the second WTA Tour title of her season in Hong Kong.
China, which defeated Belgium in its opening tie, will look to level the contest when Zhizhen Zhang faces Felix Auger-Aliassime. China will win Group B and advance to the quarterfinals with a victory over Canada.
More to come
