Mboko works magic to outplay Rybakina
The Canadian player surprised everyone by defeating Rybakina, who was one point away from winning in the semifinals of the WTA Montreal 2025.
After almost three hours of pure emotion in the Canadian night, Victoria Mboko overcame her worst nightmares to prevail against a Elena Rybakina who had victory within reach. As close as that match point she failed to capitalize on at the end of the third set. Despite leading 5-3 or 6-5 with a break advantage, the Kazakh player let slip a battle that stings.
The local tennis player, ranked 85th in the world, surprised Elena, ranked 12th, with a final score of 1-6, 7-5, and 7-6(4) in 2 hours and 46 minutes of a movie with various unexpected twists. Among them, Mboko's fall, which raised concerns for everyone as she received on-court treatment for her wrist.
Not even the 11 double faults stopped Victoria from earning a ticket to the grand final of the WTA Montreal 2025, where she awaits the winner of the clash between Naomi Osaka and Clara Tauson. The electrifying atmosphere undoubtedly pushed Mboko, who had to paddle against the current on numerous occasions.
Rybakina's Disappointment, Mboko's Surprise
On the other hand, Elena leaves quite bitter feelings with her performance. Despite starting the match strongly, the 12th-ranked player disappointed in crucial moments. She had victory in her hands on several occasions, and in all of them, she faltered, ultimately throwing in the towel in the decisive tiebreak.
Being more solid with her serve compared to her opponent didn't help much against a rival who didn't lose faith until the final point was played. Although the level was not the best at many points, this match serves as a testament to Mboko's resilience, fighting till the very end.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mboko hace magia para dejar en fuera de juego a Rybakina