CANADIAN Victoria Mboko captured her second career WTA title by defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, 7-5, 6(9)-7(11), 6-2, in the final of the WTA 250 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open on Sunday night at Victoria Park.
The victory adds another key achievement in the fast-rising career of the world No. 21, who proved that her breakthrough triumph on home soil at the WTA 1000 Montreal Open last August was no fluke.
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With the win, the 19-year olf is projected to break into the world’s Top 20 for the first time, just months after cracking the Top 50 in August.
The third-seeded Mboko’s title run in Hong Kong began with a comeback win over Filipino tennis star Alex Eala, No. 51, in the round of 16, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, which ended the latter’s Asian swing.
Despite being opponents for the first time at the pro level, the two share mutual respect, having risen through the junior circuit around the same time.
After Eala, Mboko went on to survive another thriller, this time against fellow Canadian and half-Filipina Leylah Fernandez, world No. 33, in the semifinals before completing her run with a composed finish in the final against the world No. 68.
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