Victoria Mboko emerged victorious in the Hong Kong Open by defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa with a score of 7-5, 6-7 (9), 6-2 on Sunday. Hailing from Burlington, Ont., the 19-year-old clinched her second WTA title of the year, following her previous win at the National Bank Open in Montreal back in August.
Expressing her delight, Mboko stated, “It’s a great feeling to wrap up the season with a victory. I focus on maintaining composure and not setting too high expectations for myself.” She emphasized the unpredictability in tennis due to the abundance of talented players and the unforeseeable outcomes.
Reflecting on her match against Bucsa, Mboko highlighted her determination to stay positive in the face of fatigue during the third set. This win marked her second triumph over Bucsa this year, having previously defeated her in Rome qualifying rounds.
Despite a setback in the second set, Mboko acknowledged the nature of tennis and the need to remain resilient. She emphasized the importance of regrouping after pivotal moments to maintain focus and performance levels. Mboko’s journey to the final included a hard-fought victory against compatriot Leylah Fernandez.
Having overcome a wrist injury earlier in the season, Mboko is set to ascend to the WTA top 20 in the upcoming rankings release on Monday.
