No. 3 seed Victoria Mboko triumphed in an all-Canadian matchup at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, overcoming No. 2 seed Leylah Fernandez with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach her second WTA final of the season. She will compete against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, who secured her place in the final by defeating No. 5 seed Maya Joint 6-3, 6-1 in just 57 minutes.
Hong Kong: Scores | Draws | Order of play
A Match of Two Halves
Mboko’s remarkable title win in Montreal last August was characterized by her resilience, winning three out of seven matches after losing the first set, including saving a match point against Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. In Hong Kong, her performance mirrors this trend; the 19-year-old has won three out of four matches after dropping the first set, including overcoming a 4-1 deficit in the third set against Alexandra Eala in the second round.
Against Fernandez, the 2023 champion and strong competitor throughout her initial rounds, Mboko exhibited her knack for tackling challenges. The match shifted early in the second set when Fernandez took a medical timeout at 2-1, receiving strapping on her thigh. Before this break, Fernandez dominated, winning eight of the nine games with relentless net play and aggressive shots, hitting 10 winners to Mboko’s five in the first set and forcing 14 unforced errors from the teenager.
Mboko’s Strategic Turnaround
Upon returning from the break, Mboko significantly improved her game, especially her first-serve percentage, rising from 58% in the first set to an impressive 34 out of 40 in the following sets, ultimately holding her serve for the rest of the match. Her defensive skills shone through, garnering her first break point in the deciding set, from which she claimed victory in 11 of the last 14 games.
While Fernandez maintained her moments at the net, she couldn’t regain the consistency displayed earlier in the match and ended with two double faults. “I didn’t really have the best start,” Mboko remarked. “But I have to credit her for playing such great, aggressive tennis. I just kept saying to myself to stay in it and slowly gained confidence, becoming braver as the match progressed.”
Mending After Tough Times
Following her surprise title in Montreal, Mboko faced a four-match losing streak, unable to classify it strictly as a slump due to a wrist injury and losses to strong opponents like Barbora Krejcikova. Returning to form in Tokyo, where she reached the quarterfinals, allowed Mboko to regain confidence.
Interestingly, Mboko was originally set to encounter Fernandez in the first round in Tokyo, but following Jasmine Paolini’s withdrawal, she was moved to the No. 9 seed. She broke her losing streak against Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion, marking a notable comeback against fellow Canadians.
Bucsa’s Breakthrough in Hong Kong
In her previous Hong Kong appearance, Bucsa was eliminated in the second round, but it was pivotal as she first met her clothing sponsor. The 27-year-old, currently ranked No. 68, resonated with her Asian tournaments, showcasing one of her best performances against Joint with 20 winners compared to Joint’s six.
“I played amazing,” Bucsa stated afterward, emphasizing the hard work behind her success. This victory follows a standout season for Bucsa, including reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time at the US Open. In their only prior match, Mboko beat Bucsa 6-3, 6-2 in the Italian clay qualifying round earlier this year.
