From World No.333 to 18 in one year: Victoria Mboko caps off remarkable breakout year with second title at Hong Kong Open

Victoria Mboko hadn't won a match since Montreal up until the Pan Pacific Open when she managed to take some real confidence boosting wins before losing out to Elena Rybakina and she has taken that forward into the Hong Kong Open where she has won the title.

Mboko saw off Cristina Bucsa 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 in a quality match from both but the Canadian despite having difficulty closing out in the second couldn't be denied in the decider as she sealed the win and will move into the top 20 for the first time tomorrow to cap off a remarkable breakthrough season.

From being one of the top talents coming off the ITF circuit winning 22 matches in a row in January and February, her card was very much marked going into what promised to be a breakout foray as she had success in the Miami Open as well as on clay after being handed wildcards for tournaments based off winning five ITF titles up until March of 2025. 

But it was Canada where she really broke out as she ended up sealing the title defeating Coco Gauff in straight sets before defeating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to reach the semi-finals. After saving a match point, she saw off Elena Rybakina to reach her first ever WTA Tour final. She defeated Naomi Osaka in three sets and ascended into tennis folklore as she also reached the top 25 in her first proper year on the tour.

But when a rise happens a fall is also likely as she had to deal with being a top player now and being seeded for events. She hadn't won since that moment until the end of last month but that 19-year-old after her run in Japan went forward to Hong Kong. She saw off Talia Gibson in three sets and most of her week was characterised by gruelling ties and doing similar to her compatriot Bianca Andreescu who is known for sheer quality but also making it hard for herself.

She saw off close friend Alexandra Eala in three sets in the Last 16 before then taking advantage of a walk-over as again Anna Kalinskaya was beset by injury issues. But then it was the big tie as she faced the top Canadian since the downfall of Andreescu in Leylah Fernandez who has won this title before and also has long flown the flag of consistency for her country.

But it was Mboko who won the all Canadian battle ass he took it 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and onto Bucsa she went. It was a tight first set as Mboko went 4-2 up with a break of serve and had set point at 5-3 but managed to prolong it with Bucsa not giving up lightly. Bucsa lost her serve and Bucsa made it a shootout to the end as Mboko held and then broke finally to avert the danger.

But the second set looked to be all Mboko until it wasn't. She surged into a 3-1 lead but after spurning chances to make it 5-3. She had to hold on and then was broken by Bucsa to make it 6-5 who didn't get set point at that juncture as Mboko broke back but it was 11-9 in the tie-break as Mboko had match points but Bucsa ended up edging through to steal the set and prolong the match.

But it was pretty comfortable from there for Mboko who managed to rally and seal the final set 6-2 as it seemed Bucsa's steam ran out at the end of the second set in keeping herself in the match. She ascends to a new career high next week too but it is all about Mboko. Starting the season with titles and ending it on a high too.