Teen sensation Mboko sparkles in Melbourne to book Sabalenka matchup

MELBOURNE, Jan 23 : Victoria Mboko did not place any expectations on herself coming into her first Australian Open but the Canadian teen ticked off another milestone on Friday by reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

The 19-year-old's reward for a 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3 win over Clara Tauson at Melbourne Park was a first career meeting against world number one Aryna Sabalenka with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.

Mboko shot into the spotlight when she became the youngest player since Serena Williams to beat four major winners in a tournament en route to claiming last year's Canadian Open in Montreal and has continued to impress Down Under.

After a run to the Adelaide final, Mboko's win over 14th-seeded Dane Tauson marks her best result at a Grand Slam.

"I didn't really expect that. I feel like sometimes I just say things just to say it, just throw it out there," a beaming Mboko told reporters.

"But no, every tournament I play I always want to do well. It's my first fourth round in a Grand Slam. It's my first time playing the Australian Open. This is a really cool experience.

"I didn't have any expectations on myself since I'd never been here before. But it's really cool to have played so many matches on stadiums."

A LOT OF FIRSTS

Born in the United States to parents who fled political unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mboko shifted base to Canada as a child and began hitting balls in Ontario tennis courts aged four.

On Sunday, she will most likely play at the iconic Rod Laver Arena against top seed and favourite Sabalenka.

"I've never played a current number one in the world. That's going to be a different experience," Mboko said.

"I assume we'd be playing on Rod Laver, as well. I've never played