Victoria Mboko Defeats Leylah Fernandez in Hong Kong Open Semifinal

HONG KONG – Victoria Mboko of Canada triumphed over fellow Canadian Leylah Fernandez in a thrilling three-set match at the Prudential Hong Kong Open on Saturday. Mboko, the third seed, won 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in their first-ever meeting, securing her spot in the final.

At just 19 years old, Mboko demonstrated remarkable resilience, overcoming an early deficit against second-seeded Fernandez. The match saw a dramatic shift when Fernandez, leading 2-1 in the second set, called for a medical timeout, which seemed to impact her momentum. Following the break, Mboko found her rhythm, winning 11 of the final 14 games.

“I didn’t really have the best start. She was playing really great, aggressive tennis, which made it hard for me to find my rhythm,” Mboko said after the match. “But I just wanted to stay in there as much as I could with her and find a way.”

Mboko’s victory marks her second appearance in a WTA final this season, as she previously reached the finals at the National Bank Open in Montreal. She will face Cristina Bucsa of Spain on Sunday for the title, who previously defeated fifth-seeded Maya Joint of Australia.

Throughout the tournament, Mboko has shown a knack for comebacks, winning three of her four matches after dropping the first set. She is set to move into the world’s top 20 rankings, a significant leap from her starting position at No. 333 this season.

“This is a great accomplishment for me, and I can’t wait to compete in the final tomorrow,” Mboko added, reflecting on her impressive journey this year.