Mboko advances in Miami Open women's doubles, Fernandez bounced from singles Canada's Victoria Mboko and Mirra Andreeva of Russia advanced to the Round of 16 in the women's doubles tournament at the Miami Open after defeating Australia's Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands 7-6 (7), 6-3 in the Round of 32 on Sunday. The Canadian-Russian pair will face Australia's Storm Hunter and Jessica Pegula of the United States in the next round. Mboko, from Burlington, Ont., and Andreeva will reunite on the doubles court for their Round of 16 match. Meanwhile, Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., suffered a straight-sets loss to Pegula 6-2, 6-2 in the Round of 32 of the women's singles tournament. Fernandez also faced a setback in the doubles event, partnering with Venus Williams of the U.S. to lose to New Zealand's Erin Routliffe and American Asia Muhammad in a best-of-three match. The top-seeded Fernandez and Williams took an early lead with a 6-3 first set, but Routliffe and Muhammad rallied to win the second and third sets 6-3, 13-11, securing their place in the Round of 16. Fernandez's singles and doubles exits mark a challenging week for the Canadian player, who had previously been a strong contender in the tournament. The loss in singles ends her run in the Miami Open, while the doubles defeat highlights the competitive nature of the event. In other matches, Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime will face France's Terence Atmane in the Round of 32 of the men's singles tournament on Monday. Auger-Aliassime's participation adds to the Canadian presence in the Miami Open, which also includes other players like Denis Shapovalov, who withdrew from the tournament earlier in the week.#mirra_andreeva #victoria_mboko #ellen_perez #demi_schuurs #storm_hunter
Mboko, Andreeva set for trilogy as Eala edges out Linette in Miami Victoria Mboko and Mirra Andreeva are set for their third meeting of 2026 in the Miami Open, while 2025 Miami semifinalist Alexandra Eala advanced to the Round of 16 with a hard-fought victory over Magda Linette. The young stars of the WTA Tour will clash in the fourth round, continuing a rivalry that has already produced two intense matches this season. Mboko and Andreeva, both teenagers, have split their previous encounters, with Andreeva claiming her fourth WTA singles title in January and Mboko avenging that loss in Doha. Their upcoming showdown in Miami has generated significant anticipation, as they will also team up in doubles play. Eala’s path to the Round of 16 was marked by resilience, as she overcame Linette in a tightly contested match. After securing a straightforward first set, Eala faced a second-set tiebreak, where she capitalized on her opportunities to clinch the victory. The 19-year-old emphasized her determination, stating she focused on executing her game plan despite Linette’s efforts to elevate her play. Eala’s performance against Linette, who had previously defeated Iga Swiatek, highlights her growing confidence on the tour. She will now face Karolina Muchova, the Doha champion, in the next round, a matchup she described as both a privilege and a challenge. Mboko and Andreeva’s rivalry has developed rapidly since the start of the 2026 season. Their first meeting in January saw Andreeva secure a decisive win, but Mboko turned the tables in Doha with a thrilling three-set victory. The Canadian player credited her ability to save a match point during that encounter, which ultimately led her to the tournament final.#alexandra_eala #mirra_andreeva #karolina_muchova #victoria_mboko #magda_linette
Teen Titans Collide: Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko renew rising rivalry in Miami Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko, both ranked in the world’s top 10, are set to face off in Miami as their young careers continue to evolve. The match marks their third encounter of 2026, with both players already showing signs of becoming future Grand Slam contenders. Andreeva, known for her defensive skills and powerful backhand, has reached a career-high ranking of No. 5, while Mboko, who rose to No. 12 this month, has quietly built momentum with consistent results. Their rivalry, which began with doubles partnerships at Indian Wells and Miami, now takes center stage in the Miami Open’s early rounds. The pair split their first two meetings, with Andreeva securing an easy victory in the Adelaide final and Mboko earning a hard-fought third-set win in Doha. Mboko’s resilience in tight matches has become a key strength, as she has shown an ability to recover from setbacks. Meanwhile, Andreeva’s volatility—marked by sharp peaks and valleys in form—has made her an unpredictable opponent. Despite her talent, Mboko’s composure and knack for comebacks give her an edge on the quick hard courts of Miami, where the crowd is expected to be highly supportive. Analysts predict Mboko will emerge victorious in this matchup. The Miami Open also features high-profile clashes between rising stars and established players. In the men’s draw, Jakub Mensik and Frances Tiafoe are set to meet in a rematch of their Davis Cup encounter. Both players have struggled with consistency in recent months, but Tiafoe’s recent resurgence under new coach Mark Kovacs has positioned him as a strong contender. Mensik, the defending 1000 champion, faces a critical test as he aims to maintain his upward trajectory.#miami_open #frances_tiafoe #mirra_andreeva #victoria_mboko #jakub_mensik
Mirra Andreeva, the 18-year-old defending champion of the Indian Wells tournament, faced criticism for her unprofessional behavior after a recent loss. Known for her bubbly personality and affection for her puppy, Ressi, Andreeva has struggled to maintain composure during defeats, raising concerns about her maturity as a professional athlete. The incident occurred during a match where Andreeva lost her temper, shouting an expletive after a handshake with Katerina Siniakova, a rising doubles star. Her frustration appeared to spill over even during the match, with her coach, Conchita Martinez, reportedly contributing to her agitation from the stands. While Martinez, a Hall of Famer, is expected to guide Andreeva in managing her emotions, the incident highlighted a recurring issue in her career. Andreeva’s recent performance has been marked by inconsistency, particularly in her attempts to defend her 2025 titles at Dubai and Indian Wells. Her inability to secure these victories has impacted her rankings, with her points falling significantly. Despite her youth and the potential for a long career ahead, critics argue she must address her approach to defeat to avoid further setbacks. The incident also drew attention to her upcoming doubles match against Victoria Mboko, a fellow teenager from Canada. Their Round of 16 pairing against Jelena Ostapenko and Hailey Baptiste could be a turning point for Andreeva, offering an opportunity to showcase improved sportsmanship and resilience. While setbacks are inevitable in professional sports, the way athletes handle them often defines their legacy. For Andreeva, balancing her natural charm with the discipline required at the elite level will be crucial in shaping her future success.#indian_wells #dubai #katerina_siniakova #mirra_andreeva #conchita_martinez
1991 Still Stands: Siniakova Ends Andreeva’s Title Defense Bid Title defenses in tennis are rare, especially for women, with only one instance since 1991 when Martina Navratilova secured her second consecutive title at the BNP Paribas Open. This streak continued as defending champion Mirra Andreeva fell to Katerina Siniakova of Czechia in the third round on Monday. The match, played in Stadium 1, ended with a score of 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3, ending Andreeva’s bid to become the first woman to successfully defend a singles title at the event since Navratilova’s achievement. Andreeva, the 2025 champion, entered the match on a seven-match winning streak, having defeated her first opponent in straight sets the previous day. However, Siniakova, ranked 44th, proved a formidable challenge. The Czech player, a ten-time women’s doubles Grand Slam champion, overcame Andreeva’s fierce resistance to advance to the round of 16 for the first time at Indian Wells. Siniakova described her emotions after the victory, stating, “I’m really emotional right now. I don’t feel any part of my body. I just kept fighting – I don’t believe it, I don’t know what to say.” The match, which lasted two hours and 48 minutes, marked Siniakova’s second consecutive marathon victory this year. Her previous win over Leylah Fernandez in the second round had taken three hours and 28 minutes, making it the second-longest Tour-level match of the season. The contest was a back-and-forth battle, with both players converting seven breaks of serve. A total of 42 break point opportunities were generated, with Andreeva facing 26 and Siniakova 16. The decisive moment came in the final set when Siniakova secured the fifth game to take a 5-3 lead. She then saved three break points before closing out the match on her first match point.#tennis #indian_wells #bnpparibas_open #katerina_siniakova #mirra_andreeva
