federation cup
Mboko regroups to win on Manchester United Cup debut, Auger-Aliassime can reverse tie
Canada leads China 1-0 with Auger-Aliassime next game against Zhang
January 4, 2026
Tennis Australia
Victoria Mboko beat Zhu Lin in three sets in Sydney on Sunday.
Author: ATP/WTA Staff
In the first match of the 2026 Fed Cup in Sydney on Sunday, Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko beat China’s Lin Zhu after dropping a set to give Canada a 1-0 lead.
The only time the two players met before, Zhu Wei won and got off to a good start in the first four games. The 31-year-old took advantage from the start and ended the first set 6-2.
Mboko, who had a breakout 2025 season and climbed from outside the top 300 to the top 20, rallied in the second set. The Canadian won the first four games and took this set 6-2 to force a decider.
The 19-year-old didn’t drop a single set in the deciding set, sealing the victory with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 in one hour and 39 minutes.
It was Mboko’s sixth consecutive win on the WTA Tour after ending a five-match winning streak in 2025, and earned her her second WTA Tour title of the Hong Kong season.
The thing with time is that it changes 😌 pic.twitter.com/TMuKdtjeNO
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2026
The Chinese team, which defeated Belgium in their first game, will equalize the score when Zhang Zhizhen faces Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Chinese team will defeat the Canadian team to win Group B and advance to the quarterfinals.
