Australian Open: Victoria Mboko sets up Aryna Sabalenka showdown

Victoria Mboko continued her rapid rise up the rankings as she reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time with a 7-6 (5) 5-7 6-3 victory over 14th seed Clara Tauson at the Australian Open.

Mboko served for the second set and had three match points before Tauson fought back, but the 19-year-old showed maturity beyond her years to ensure that setback did not derail her.

Mboko was one of five teenagers to reach the third round in the women's singles, with fellow debutantes Tereza Valentova and Nikola Bartunkova also making a big impression along with 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva.

The Canadian is leading the teenage charge at Melbourne Park alongside 18-year-old American Iva Jovic, who upstaged seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to reach round four.

"There's a lot of us teenagers on the tour who are actually still in the tournament right now," said Mboko. "I think it's really nice to see.

"I've known a lot of them for such a long time, played against them in the juniors. I always want them to do well and vice versa."

Victoria Mboko, left, of Canada is congratulated by Clara Tauson

'All over the place' - Sabalenka labours past Potapova

Mboko's prize is a last-16 tie against world No 1 and two-time former champion Aryna Sabalenka, who was far from her ruthless best as she wobbled against Anastasia Potapova before coming through 7-6 (4) 7-6 (7) to progress.

Sabalenka will need to raise her level from her error-strewn performance against Emma Raducanu's conqueror Potapova, who had four set points in the second-set tie-break.

Aryna Sabalenka, right, of Belarus, is congratulated by Anastasia Potapova

Sabalenka admitted emotionally she was "all over the place" but she again showed her mettle when she needed to, improving her open era record to 19 consecutive tie-breaks won at Grand Slams, dating back to a French Open semi-final loss to Karolina Muchova in 2023.

She is expecting a fierce battle from Mboko, saying: "I don't believe that mentality they (teenagers) have nothing to lose because I've been in their shoes. You still go out there with hopes that you're going to win this one, you're going to be the young one to win the slam."