Paula Badosa vs Victoria Mboko Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Rising teenager Mboko targets big upset in Miami

Mboko has won more professional matches than anyone on tour so far in 2025 - and while this is obviously a seismic step up in class, I'm not writing off the talented Canadian here. The 18-year-old is an extraordinary 28-1 across all levels so far this season and coming off her maiden WTA tour-level victory in her Miami opener, where she upstaged Camila Osorio in three sets.

Badosa could be vulnerable here. The Spaniard has a history of injury problems and was last seen retiring in Merida while leading Daria Saville by a set due to a back problem. Badosa has only been beyond the third round in Miami once in eight overall appearances, so this hasn't exactly been a happy hunting ground either. It's a long shot, but Mboko looks the real deal and has absolutely nothing to lose here - her confidence is sky-high and I'm backing her to cover a +4.5 games line, with smaller stakes on the outright upset.

This will be the first career meeting between the pair.

Badosa comes into this tournament with a 10-7 record on the season so far.

The Spaniard started the year in outstanding fashion, defeating Coco Gauff on her way to a maiden Grand Slam semi-final appearance at the Australian Open, where she was upstaged by Aryna Sabalenka.

However, Badosa has gone just 4-4 since departing Melbourne, going down in the second round of Doha and the R16 in Dubai, while as mentioned, she was forced to retire with a back injury in the quarter-finals of Merida.

That injury meant Badosa had to withdraw from Indian Wells last week. The 27-year-old's best result in Miami was a quarter-final run in 2022. The Spaniard was unlucky to run into Sabalenka in the second round last year.

Mboko has put together an explosive start to 2025, making a statement on the lower ITF Tour as she looks to swiftly rise into the top 100 and beyond.

The 18-year-old has won five ITF titles across the Caribbean, Georgia, England and Portugal to launch the year with a 27-1 record, but her best result came in her Miami opener.

Mboko registered her maiden WTA victory with a stellar 7-5 5-7 6-3 dispatch of Camila Osario in two hours and 33 minutes, with her powerful backhand doing most of the damage as she notched up her 28th match win of 2025.

Currently at a live ranking of No. 152, Mboko will surely be cracking the top 100 sooner rather than later if she continues to progress at her current rate.