Victoria Mboko emerged victorious in an all-Canadian clash during the semifinals of the Hong Kong Tennis Open on Saturday. She overcame Leylah Fernandez with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to secure a spot in her second WTA final of the season.
At 19 years old, Mboko staged a comeback after a challenging first set by improving her first-serve efficiency. This adjustment led her to claim victory in 11 of the final 14 games against her 23-year-old opponent from Laval, Que.
Reflecting on the match, Mboko acknowledged Fernandez’s formidable playstyle, describing it as aggressive and commendable. Despite the initial struggle to find her rhythm, Mboko maintained her focus and determination throughout the encounter.
In the upcoming final, the Toronto native will go head-to-head against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, who secured a convincing win over Maya Joint with a score of 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday. Mboko and Bucsa have met once before, with Mboko emerging triumphant with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the first qualifying round on the clay courts in Rome earlier this year.