Photo: Martin Sidorjak
It’s been a season to remember for Canadian Victoria Mboko – and we’re only in July!
During her 2022 campaign, Mboko, who trains out of the National Tennis Centre presented by Rogers in Montreal, has won three junior doubles titles, one junior singles title, and has also reached two junior Grand Slam doubles finals (alongside partner Kayla Cross).
Today, Mboko kept her momentum going and defeated fellow Canadian and No. 6-seed Stacey Fung 6-2, 6-3 to clinch her spot in the Saskatoon Challenger semi-finals. With the win, Mboko advances to her second semi-final in as many tries at an ITF $25,000 event (runner-up in Monastir).
Despite the tough draw and facing the tournament top-seed Valentini Grammatikopoulou in the opening round, Mboko is showcasing some impressive tennis this week in Saskatchewan. Yesterday, in her second-round match, she faced her good friend Cross, winning the contest in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
Joining the 15-year-old Toronto native in the final four are Americans Elysia Bolton (No. 6), Hurricane Tyra Black (No. 3), and unseeded Madison Sieg.
Bolton, Mboko’s next opponent, managed to oust compatriots Danielle Willson and Jessie Aney, as well as Canadian Natasha Sengphrachanh en route to the semi-finals. It’ll be a first meeting between Bolton and Mboko, with a spot in Sunday’s championship match on the line.
Duelling it out in the bottom half of the draw for the second spot in the finals are Black and Sieg. The two players have never crossed paths on the professional circuit and their match should end up being an entertaining clash between a couple of young, talented Americans.
A reminder that if you’re in the Saskatoon area, attendance is FREE!
For more information about the event, please visit the tournament page on the ITF website, here.
