Victoria Mboko emerged victorious in the semifinals of the Hong Kong Tennis Open by defeating Leylah Fernandez in an all-Canadian clash on Saturday. The 19-year-old Mboko staged a comeback after losing the first set, improving her first-serve efficiency to secure 11 of the final 14 games against her 23-year-old opponent from Laval, Quebec.
Reflecting on her performance, Mboko acknowledged Fernandez’s strong and aggressive play, which initially disrupted her rhythm. However, Mboko stayed resilient, gradually gaining confidence in her game and becoming more assertive in her shot-making as the match progressed.
In the upcoming WTA final, Mboko, hailing from Toronto, will square off against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, who triumphed over Maya Joint in straight sets on Saturday. The encounter with Bucsa marks Mboko’s second meeting with the Spanish player, having previously defeated her 6-3, 6-2 during the first qualifying round in Rome earlier this year.