Photo: Collected

HONG KONG, Nov 2, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Victoria Mboko won the second WTA title 
of her career as the 19-year-old outlasted the more experienced Cristina 
Bucsa in the final of the Hong Kong Open on Sunday.

Mboko overpowered the Spaniard 7-5, 6-7 (9/11), 6-2 at Victoria Park to add 
the Hong Kong crown to her breakout victory at her home Canadian Open in 
August.

Mboko, who is at a career-high 21 in the world, defeated the 2021 US Open 
runner-up and fellow Canadian Leylah Fernandez in three sets in Saturday's 
semi-finals.

Against the 27-year-old Bucsa, who is ranked 68, Mboko's big serve and 
clubbing ground strokes gradually wore down her opponent over nearly three 
hours.

"It's been an incredible week," said the teenager, who was ranked 350 at the 
end of last year and had her father watching in the crowd.

"Wow, what a match, I'm so tired right now. Cristina really pushed me to my 
limits."

Mboko broke serve to seal the first set, then began the second in the same 
fashion before holding for an early 3-0 lead and put the title within grasp.

But Bucsa, who was chasing a first singles title, reeled off three games in a 
row to level the set 3-3 and then survived a championship point in the tie 
break to force a decider.

Mboko recovered her poise in the final set and the teenager sealed the deal 
when her opponent fired a return into the net.

Also on Sunday in China, Russia's Anna Blinkova won the Jiangxi Open with a 
6-3, 6-3 victory over Austria's Lilli Tagger.