Victoria Mboko emerged victorious in an all-Canadian clash during the semifinals of the Hong Kong Tennis Open on Saturday, triumphing over Leylah Fernandez with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to secure her spot in her second WTA final of the year. The 19-year-old Mboko showcased resilience after a challenging first set by improving her first-serve performance, leading her to claim victory in 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 playstyle, which initially disrupted her rhythm. However, she credited her ability to regain confidence and bravery as the match progressed, enabling her to take control and execute her shots effectively.
In the upcoming final, the Toronto native will square off against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, who secured a convincing win over Maya Joint in straight sets (6-3, 6-1) in the semifinals. Mboko and Bucsa have crossed paths once before, with Mboko emerging victorious with a score of 6-3, 6-2 in their previous encounter during the clay courts’ qualifying round in Rome earlier this year.