Victoria Mboko isn’t just settling scores-she’s making statements.
In a thrilling third-round clash at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, the Canadian No. 1 outlasted fellow teenage phenom Mirra Andreeva, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), in what was easily one of the most compelling matches of the WTA season so far. This was more than just a rematch of their Adelaide final last month-it was a heavyweight bout between two of the game’s brightest young stars, and this time, Mboko came out on top.
Ranked No. 13 in the world, the 19-year-old from Burlington showed exactly why she’s climbing fast-and why she’s not afraid of the moment. Taking down the world No. 7 in a match that stretched just over two hours, Mboko delivered the biggest win of her season, and did it in gritty, gutsy fashion.
Let’s talk about the numbers behind the win: 37 winners from Mboko, a staggering stat considering the pressure-packed nature of the match. But it wasn’t just about shotmaking-it was about resilience. She faced 16 break points on Andreeva’s serve and converted six of them, including a massive one at 5-4 in the third set to stay alive when Andreeva was serving for the match.
From the jump, Mboko looked locked in. She rattled off eight straight points on serve and broke early to take a commanding 3-0 lead, mirroring the fast start she had in Adelaide.
But as we’ve come to expect from Andreeva, the Russian wasn’t going quietly. She clawed her way back to 3-all, only for Mboko to dig deep and fend off two break points in the seventh game-a key moment that helped her regain control.
At 3-4, Mboko turned the screws again, breaking Andreeva to go up 5-3 and then calmly serving out the set. It took just 20 minutes, but it was a rollercoaster of momentum swings-and Mboko rode them like a veteran.
The second set was a slugfest of a different kind. Both players struggled to hold serve early, with the first five games featuring at least one break point. After trading breaks, Mboko finally held to love for 3-3, but Andreeva found her rhythm again, breaking at 3-4 and serving out the set with authority to force a decider.
And that third set? It had everything.
At 4-all, Mboko blinked. A double fault-one of seven on the day-handed Andreeva the break and a chance to serve for the match.
The Russian reached match point at 5-4, 40-30, but the pressure flipped. A double fault of her own opened the door, and Mboko stormed through it, breaking back to level things again.
From there, both players held serve, setting up a tiebreak that felt like it could go either way. The first four points were all won on return, but it was Mboko who found the edge with a crushing forehand that earned her the mini-break.
She surged ahead to 6-3, earning three match points. Andreeva saved two, showing her trademark fight, but Mboko wasn’t letting this one slip.
On the third match point, she stepped in and ripped a backhand winner to seal the deal.
This was a win that showed off Mboko’s full toolkit-raw power, mental toughness, and the ability to rise in the biggest moments. She’s not just a rising star anymore-she’s a real threat.
Next up? A quarterfinal showdown against either Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina or the always-dangerous Qinwen Zheng. Another marquee matchup awaits, and if Mboko keeps playing like this, she’s going to be in the middle of a lot more of them.