Victoria Mboko mounted a spirited comeback from a set down to defeat Beatriz Haddad Maia in three sets, highlighting a day of dramatic tennis in WTA 500 Adelaide International. Paula Badosa has lost the tight fight to Marie Bouzkova despite a hefty lead in a match which was expected to be the high quality first round battle. A few upsets appeared on first day of the week with Ekaterina Alexandrova getting upset by Jaqueline Cristian and Clara Tauson being forced to retire mid-match against Alja Tomljanovic. WTA 250 in Hobart is also lacking the second seed already after Mccartney Kessler losing to Olga Danilovic.
Bouzkova performs a huge comeback
Marie Bouzkova showed great fighting spirit to overcome Paula Badosa 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in another Adelaide thriller. The Czech player struggled early but found her rhythm as the match progressed, ultimately wearing down the Spanish veteran. Badosa was set and early break up in second set, but Bouzkova's persistence paid off to force a decider. The former world number two has built up the advantage again, leading by 4-1 with a single break in third set, but then Bouzkova has performed an amazing comeback, winning 5 games in a row to secure an unexpected comeback. Bouzkova's resilience on break points paid dividends as she converted five of 15 opportunities, including crucial breaks in the deciding set. Her serve pressure statistics of 18 wins from 27 pressure points showed her ability to raise her level when most needed. The victory moves Bouzkova into the second round where she'll meet the highest seed in top half - Mirra Andreeva.
Mboko fights back against Haddad Maia
Victoria Mboko's comeback victory showcased her mental toughness as she turned around what looked like a difficult afternoon in Adelaide. After dropping the opening set 5-7, the world No. 58 found another gear to dominate the final two sets against Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia. Mboko acknowledged the challenge posed by her opponent's aggressive style and variety, but maintained her determination to fight for every point. The turnaround was evident in her return game, where she converted six of seven break point opportunities. Her serve also improved dramatically after the first set, winning nearly 70% of first serve points overall and hitting four aces. Anna Kalinskaya is next for Mboko, setting up an intriguing round of 16 battle.
Cristian continues strong form with upset win
Jaqueline Cristian produced another impressive performance to defeat 11th-ranked Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-4 in Adelaide. The Romanian showed excellent consistency throughout the match, converting five of nine break point chances while maintaining a solid 67% first serve winning percentage. Cristian's ability to capitalize on pressure moments proved decisive - she won 14 of 29 return pressure points while holding firm with 10 of 18 serve pressure points. The victory continues her steady climb up the rankings and represents another scalp against a top-15 opponent.
Tomljanovic shocks Tauson in tight tiebreak
The Australian's upset victory over the Danish happened in the unpleasant circumstances, as Tauson needed to retire after losing the tight first set. It was a foundation for a huge battle as 33 pressure points were played just in one set, but the further parts not happened due to Tauson's retirement. The other home representatives have had the mixed fortunes on Monday. Daria Kasatkina dismantled Maria Sakkari in straight sets, while the youngster Emerson Jones lost to Emma Navarro, which is the American's first victory in 2026.
Danilovic eliminates defending Hobart champ
In Hobart, Olga Danilovic scored a significant upset by defeating second-seeded McCartney Kessler 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in an incredibly tight encounter. The match came down to the finest margins, with Kessler actually winning 87 total points to Danilovic's 86. The Serbian's superior conversion rate proved decisive, as she won 5 of 6 break point opportunities while saving 5 of 9 on her own serve. Danilovic's pressure point performance was exemplary, winning 13 of 23 serve pressure points and capitalizing with 10 of 15 return pressure points. The victory eliminates the defending champion from Hobart and continues Danilovic's quest to finally fulfill her considerable potential on the WTA tour.
The Australian swing continues with second-round action across both Adelaide and Hobart, as players look to build momentum ahead of the Australian Open later this month.