Entertainment
Victoria Mboko +3 in WTA Rankings as she seals two milestones at Hong Kong Open
Victoria Mboko has unlocked two career ranking milestones by overcoming Anna Kalinskaya to reach the semi-finals at the 2025 Hong Kong Tennis Open.
In what was the first meeting between the pair, Mboko was leading 6-1, 3-1 when world No 35 Kalinskaya was forced to retire due to physical issues.
Victoria Mboko clinches ranking milestones in Hong Kong
- Victoria Mboko reached the semi-finals at the Hong Kong Tennis Open as Anna Kalinskaya was forced to retire in the pair’s quarter-final
- The 19-year-old has guaranteed that she will move up three places to a new career-best ranking of world No 18
- Mboko’s latest victory means she will end the 2025 season as the Canadian No 1 ahead of Leylah Fernandez
Mboko started the quarter-final encounter at the WTA 250 tournament by saving a break point in the opening game and she broke Kalinskaya to take a 3-1 lead.
The Canadian then fought off two break points to hold for 4-1 before breaking her 26-year-old Russian opponent again to go up 5-1.
After Mboko served the set out, Kalinskaya had her vitals checked by the tournament doctor.
Kalinskaya staved off a break point to hold in the first game of the second set, but she lost her next service game to fall 1-2 behind.
Mboko then held from 0-40 to take a 3-1 lead, after which Kalinskaya took a medical timeout to have her vitals checked again. This time, the Russian was unable to continue and awarded the win to Mboko.
Mboko’s ranking rise
Prior to her quarter-final against Kalinskaya, Mboko had climbed one position to a projected career-high ranking of 20th in the Live WTA Rankings.
By progressing to the semi-finals, Mboko has moved onto 2,005 points, which has lifted her above Elise Mertens and Karolina Muchova into 18th place.
Mboko is guaranteed to be the world No 18 when the WTA Rankings update next week as no player can overtake her, and she cannot move up any further — even if she wins the title.
By achieving this, the 19-year-old has ensured she will finish the 2025 season as the Canadian women’s No 1, having been in contention with Leylah Fernandez — who is also still in action in Hong Kong.
Fernandez started the week as the world No 22, but she is currently 23rd in the Live Rankings due to points she is defending from the same event last year. The 23-year-old can climb to as high as 19th place if she secures the title in Hong Kong.
If Mboko had lost in the quarter-finals, Fernandez could have overtaken her by winning the title in Hong Kong.
What next for Mboko?
Mboko will face either No 2 seed Fernandez or seventh seed and world No 45 Sorana Cirstea in the semi-finals in Hong Kong on Saturday.
The Canadian is chasing her second career title to add to her stunning breakthrough victory at the WTA 1000 in Montreal.
Entertainment
Victoria Mboko beats Cristina Bucsa in Hong Kong to claim her second WTA title
Canadian 19-year-old rising starVictoria Mboko overcame world number 68 Cristina Bucsa from Spain 7-5 6-7 (9-11) 6-2 in the Hong Kong final to claim the second WTA title of her career.
Mboko converted her second break point in the sixth game to open up a 5-2 lead in the first set. Bucsa broke straight back at 15 in the ninth game to draw level to 5-5 after Mboko wasted three set points across the eighth and tenth games.
Mboko served out the 11th game with hold at 15 before breaking serve in the 12th game to close out the first set 7-5.
Mboko broke in the second game of the second set and held serve at love to open up a 3-0 lead. Bucsa broke back in the fifth game and held serve in the next game to draw level to 3-3. Bucsa earned her second break in the 11th game, but she failed to serve out for the second set in the 12th game, as Mboko broke straight back to draw level to 6-6. Mboko missed a championships point at 8-7 before Bucsa converted her fourth set point to force the match to the decider.
Mboko earned two breaks in the first and seventh games to close out a one-sided third set 6-2 on the third match point in the eighth game.
Last August Mboko won her first WTA 1000 title at the Canadian Open in Montreal. The Canadian player is set to break inside the top 20 for the first time in her career and reach a career-high by winning the WTA 250 title in Hong Kong.
Entertainment
Jannik Sinner ends Carlos Alcaraz’s reign, reclaims world no. 1 honor
On Monday, Jannik Sinner will start his second stint on the ATP throne! The Italian claimed his fifth Masters 1000 crown in Paris, earning 1000 ATP points and dethroning his greatest rival, Carlos Alcaraz.
Jannik leads Carlos 250 ATP points on the latest ATP ranking list, although he has to defend 1500 points at the ATP Finals in Turin. The 24-year-old has won 2050 points since Beijing, including three titles.
His latest success came in the French capital following a flawless performance, having beaten five rivals in straight sets en route to the trophy, his 23rd in a career. Sinner did not think about the year-end no. 1 battle with Alcaraz.
However, his latest run keeps him in contention for the ultimate honor, his second in a row after a dominant display in 2024. Jannik will embrace his 66th world no. 1 week on Monday, moving closer to Stefan Edberg’s 72.
The San Candido native has won five ATP titles in 2025, including three notable ones. Sinner went back to the drawing board following the US Open title clash defeat to Alcaraz.
He brought his improvements to the Asian swing and extended his brilliant run on indoor courts to raise above all the rivals and conquer the ATP throne for the second time.
While not playing at his best physically, the Italian still endured all the efforts in Paris and became the fourth player to conquer a notable indoor event without losing a set.
Jannik dismantled injured Alexander Zverev in the semi-final and arranged the title clash against Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian chased his first Masters 1000 crown and fought well in a 6-4, 7-6 defeat.
The Italian provided another indoor masterclass, serving well and maintaining the pressure on the other side. Sinner faced no break points and seized one of six opportunities on the return, missing a chance to move over the top earlier.
Jannik tamed his strokes nicely and forged the upper hand in the more advanced rallies. The Italian will take a well-deserved rest before heading to Turin, hoping to finish the season on a high note and claim another trophy.
Entertainment
Djokovic learns fate in new home as Sabalenka addresses behaviour
Express Sport brings you the latest tennis news from the Paris Masters.
We’re reaching the business end of the Paris Masters, as eight players become four in the French capital. Jannik Sinner is the overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy after Carlos Alcaraz was dumped out by Cameron Norrie in the Spaniard’s opening match. Norrie was then beaten by Valentin Vacherot, whose amazing 10-match winning streak at Masters 1000 level came to an end when he lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Canadian star Auger-Aliassime will face Alexander Bublik in the semis. Bublik defeated Alex de Minaur, who is among those to have already qualified for the year-end ATP Finals. Sinner is through to his first Paris Masters semi-final after beating Ben Shelton. He’ll face defending champion Alexander Zverev, who survived a tough match against Daniil Medvedev.
Novak Djokovic is not involved in the Paris Masters, having decided to skip the event for the second year in a row, but he has learned his fate in the draw of next week’s ATP 250 in Athens. And over in Riyadh, the WTA Finals are about to get underway.
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