Tennis-Andreeva downs Mboko in battle of teenagers to win Adelaide title


  • Tennis
  • Saturday, 17 Jan 2026

Tennis - Brisbane International Tennis Tournament - Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane, Australia - January 7, 2026 Russia's Mirra Andreeva in action during her round of 32 match against Australia's Olivia Gadecki Zain Mohammed/AAP Image via REUTERS

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (Reuters) - World ‌number eight Mirra Andreeva warmed up for the Australian ‌Open with acomfortable 6-3 6-1 victory over fellow ‌teenager Victoria Mboko in the Adelaide International final on Saturday to claim her fourth WTA Tour title.

The 18-year-old Russian, who won back-to-back WTA 1000 titles ‍last year in Dubai and Indian Wells, ‍will meet Paris Olympics ‌silver medallist Donna Vekic in the opening round at Melbourne Park.

Mboko, ‍19, ​raced to a 3-0 lead but Andreeva turned the tables to reel off the next six games ⁠to take the opening set.

It was one-way traffic ‌in the second set as Andreeva broke early to take the opening ⁠three games ‍and sealed the match on serve, setting herself up perfectly for the year's opening Grand Slam, which begins on Sunday.

Canadian Mboko took ‍a medical timeout midway through the ‌match. The world number 17, who became the youngest player since Serena Williams to beat four major champions in an event on the way to winning last year's Canadian Open, faces Australian Emerson Jones in her Melbourne Park opener.

In the Auckland men's final, Jakub Mensik beat Sebastian Baez 6-3 7-6(7) to collect ‌his second ATP title after his breakthrough triumph at last year's Miami Open, where the 20-year-old beat his mentor Novak Djokovic in the ​final.

Mensik opens his Australian Open campaign against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, while Baez meets big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Melbourne)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tennis

Tennis-'Fully Australian' Kasatkina ready to embrace home expectations at Melbourne Park
Tennis-Venus Williams grateful for Australian Open wildcard
Tennis-Fritz upbeat on knee rehab as Melbourne first round looms
Tennis-Wimbledon expansion plans back in UK court for latest legal battle
Tennis-Players welcome Grand Slam prize money boost but vow to push for more
Tennis-Teens Mboko and Andreeva set for Adelaide final showdown
Tennis-Tsitsipas seeks the joy of competition ahead of Melbourne Park return
Tennis-Sabalenka primed for Australian Open after exhibition experiments
Tennis-Keys ready to soak up 'pinch-me moments' as defending Australian Open champion
Tennis-Australia's great hope De Minaur balances 'noise' and perks at home Slam

Others Also Read