Canadian teen Mboko stuns Gauff in Montreal upset
The 18-year-old, ranked 85th, saved all four break points while breaking the reigning French Open champion three times.
'I don't even know what to say still, I was kind of shocked about it all,' admitted Mboko, crediting the roaring home crowd for carrying her through the decisive moments.
The local favourite recalled the pivotal final game: 'The crowd started cheering even louder... I used that as fuel to pump myself up. It helped me tremendously.'
The victory marks Mboko's career-high achievement after climbing from 333rd in January.
Their previous encounter in Rome had gone to three sets, but this time the Canadian dominated.
'Playing Coco is obviously never easy. I was just happy I kept my composure,' she reflected.
Gauff, struggling with 37 double faults across her opening matches, appeared sluggish as Mboko raced through the first set in 25 minutes.
Though the American fought back in the second, she squandered three break opportunities in the seventh game.
A critical missed drop shot and errant forehand proved costly before Mboko sealed victory on Gauff's netted backhand.
'She played a really great match, that's basically it,' conceded Gauff, acknowledging her subpar tournament form.
'I knew if I took my foot off the gas, she'd take advantage.'
Mboko advances to face either China's Zhu Lin or Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
In other matches, Elena Rybakina survived a three-set battle against Dayana Yastremska 5-7, 6-2, 7-5, setting up a quarterfinal with Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk. – AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Athletics-Bednarek labels Lyles 'unsportsmanlike' after post-200m scuffle
FILE PHOTO: Aug 3, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Noah Lyles (left) defeats Kenny Bednarek to win the 200m, 19.63 to 19.67, during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images/File Photo (Reuters) -American sprinter Kenny Bednarek labelled Noah Lyles "unsportsmanlike" after their heated 200 metres showdown at the USA Track & Field Championships almost led to blows on Sunday. Lyles, the three-times world champion in the event, stormed past Bednarek to win in a world leading 19.63 seconds, turning his head to stare down Bednarek as they crossed the line. Bednarek shoved Lyles in the back before the two exchanged what looked like heated words. "Noah's going to be Noah. If he wants to stare me down, that's fine," Bednarek told reporters. "The summary is, don't do that to me. I don't do any of that stuff. It's not good character right there. That's pretty much it. At the end of the day, he won the race. I've got to give him props. He was the better man today. "What he said didn't matter, it's just what he did," Bednarek added. "Unsportsmanlike (expletive), and I don't deal with that. It's a respect factor. He's fresh. Last time we lined it up, I beat him, that's all I can say. Next time we line up, I'm going to win. That's all that matters." Sunday's final set the stage for what is sure to be a fiery rematch when the two race again at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Both have also qualified in the 100m, with Lyles also the reigning world champion in that event. After Bednarek's shove, Lyles turned around and raised his arms to his U.S. rival and bounced up and down like a fighter. Their anger spilled into their trackside interview with NBC. "I tell ya, if you've got a problem, I expect a call," Bednarek said. Lyles replied: "You know what, you're right. You´re right. Let´s talk after this." When asked later about the scuffle, Lyles said: "On coach's orders, no comment." (Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
12-Year-old Yu Zidi stuns the world, emerges as swimming's new star in Singapore
SINGAPORE: At just 12 years old, China's Yu Zidi made a stunning debut at the World Aquatics Championships, reaching three individual finals and earning a relay medal - a breakout performance that turned heads at a meet marked by world records and intense rivalries. The eight-day swimming competition concluded Sunday in Singapore with three world records and 15 championship records. As the first major long-course showdown ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, it showcased the continued dominance of the United States and Australia as well as the rapid rise of young international stars. Yu became the youngest swimmer in history to win a world championship medal, earning bronze in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay after swimming in the heats. Though she did not race in the final, her contribution secured a place on the podium. Her individual results were just as striking. Yu placed fourth in the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley, narrowly missing medals in all three. Competing against swimmers more than twice her age, she captivated the swimming world. Yu said racing against elite swimmers she once only watched on television offered invaluable experience. 'I learned so much,' she said. 'For example, I want to study Summer McIntosh's turns - I really admire her technique. I see her as a role model and hope I can become as good as she is someday.' World-class swimmers including Romania's David Popovici and American star Gretchen Walsh publicly praised Yu, calling her performance a glimpse of the sport's future. Her emergence was the bright spot of a youthful Chinese squad that finished third in the medal standings with two golds, six silvers and six bronzes, trailing only the United States and Australia. Qin Haiyang, who swept all three breaststroke titles at the 2023 Fukuoka Worlds but left the Paris Olympics without an individual gold, returned to form by winning the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke. Li Bingjie took silver in the 200m and 400m freestyle - beating US great Katie Ledecky in the latter - while Tang Qianting medalled in both breaststroke sprints. Rising star Wan Letian and sprinters Wu Qingfeng and Cheng Yujie also reached the podium, with China adding four more medals in relays. 'This is the first international competition of the new Olympic cycle,' said China's head coach Cui Dengrong. 'Our focus is on developing young athletes and coaches while assessing our standing on the world stage.' The US again topped the medal count with nine golds, 11 silvers and nine bronzes, followed by Australia with eight golds, six silvers and six bronzes. Ledecky, 28, claimed her seventh world title in the 800m freestyle and sixth in the 1,500m. Walsh swept the 50m and 100m butterfly, while Luca Urlando won a rare men's gold for the Americans in the 200m butterfly. The US also broke world records in the women's 4x100m medley relay and the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay. Australia countered with sprint and relay dominance. Kaylee McKeown won both women's backstroke titles, Mollie O'Callaghan took the 200m freestyle, and Cameron McEvoy claimed the men's 50m freestyle. The Aussies won three of eight relay events and displayed depth across the roster. Fifteen countries and regions won gold across the 42 events, with Canada and France each taking four titles. Canada's 18-year-old McIntosh led all swimmers with four golds - in the 200m and 400m IM, 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle - and added a bronze in the 800m. Her 200m butterfly victory set a championship record and was just 0.18 seconds off the world mark. France's Leon Marchand broke the world record in the men's 200m IM (1:52.69) and added gold in the 400m IM. Maxime Grousset took the men's 50m and 100m butterfly. Romania's Popovici continued his freestyle dominance with golds in the 100m and 200m, his 46.51 in the 100m just shy of Pan Zhanle's world record (46.40). Tunisia's Ahmed Hafnaoui swept the men's 800m and 1,500m freestyle -BERNAMA-XINHUA
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
12-year-old Yu Zidi stuns the world, emerges as swimming's next big star at Singapore's world championships
Yu Zidi of China reacts after competing in the women's 400-meter individual medley heats at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. - AP Photo/Vincent Thian SINGAPORE (Xinhua): At just 12 years old, China's Yu Zidi made a stunning debut at the World Aquatics Championships, reaching three individual finals and earning a relay medal - a breakout performance that turned heads at a meet marked by world records and intense rivalries. The eight-day swimming competition concluded Sunday in Singapore with three world records and 15 championship records. As the first major long-course showdown ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, it showcased the continued dominance of the United States and Australia as well as the rapid rise of young international stars. Yu became the youngest swimmer in history to win a world championship medal, earning bronze in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay after swimming in the heats. Though she did not race in the final, her contribution secured a place on the podium. Her individual results were just as striking. Yu placed fourth in the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley, narrowly missing medals in all three. Competing against swimmers more than twice her age, she captivated the swimming world. Yu said racing against elite swimmers she once only watched on television offered invaluable experience. "I learned so much," she said. "For example, I want to study Summer McIntosh's turns - I really admire her technique. I see her as a role model and hope I can become as good as she is someday." World-class swimmers including Romania's David Popovici and American star Gretchen Walsh publicly praised Yu, calling her performance a glimpse of the sport's future. Her emergence was the bright spot of a youthful Chinese squad that finished third in the medal standings with two golds, six silvers and six bronzes, trailing only the United States and Australia. Qin Haiyang, who swept all three breaststroke titles at the 2023 Fukuoka Worlds but left the Paris Olympics without an individual gold, returned to form by winning the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke. Li Bingjie took silver in the 200m and 400m freestyle - beating US great Katie Ledecky in the latter - while Tang Qianting medalled in both breaststroke sprints. Rising star Wan Letian and sprinters Wu Qingfeng and Cheng Yujie also reached the podium, with China adding four more medals in relays. "This is the first international competition of the new Olympic cycle," said China's head coach Cui Dengrong. "Our focus is on developing young athletes and coaches while assessing our standing on the world stage." The US again topped the medal count with nine golds, 11 silvers and nine bronzes, followed by Australia with eight golds, six silvers and six bronzes. Ledecky, 28, claimed her seventh world title in the 800m freestyle and sixth in the 1,500m. Walsh swept the 50m and 100m butterfly, while Luca Urlando won a rare men's gold for the Americans in the 200m butterfly. The US also broke world records in the women's 4x100m medley relay and the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay. Australia countered with sprint and relay dominance. Kaylee McKeown won both women's backstroke titles, Mollie O'Callaghan took the 200m freestyle, and Cameron McEvoy claimed the men's 50m freestyle. The Aussies won three of eight relay events and displayed depth across the roster. Fifteen countries and regions won gold across the 42 events, with Canada and France each taking four titles. Canada's 18-year-old McIntosh led all swimmers with four golds - in the 200m and 400m IM, 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle - and added a bronze in the 800m. Her 200m butterfly victory set a championship record and was just 0.18 seconds off the world mark. France's Leon Marchand broke the world record in the men's 200m IM (1:52.69) and added gold in the 400m IM. Maxime Grousset took the men's 50m and 100m butterfly. Romania's Popovici continued his freestyle dominance with golds in the 100m and 200m, his 46.51 in the 100m just shy of Pan Zhanle's world record (46.40). Tunisia's Ahmed Hafnaoui swept the men's 800m and 1,500m freestyle. - Bernama-Xinhua
