Teen Mboko stuns Rybakina to reach Qatar Open semi-finals

DOHA: Victoria Mboko moved closer to a first appearance in the WTA top 10 after the Canadian teenager upset Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open on Thursday.

The 19-year-old battled past the twice Grand Slam winner 7-5 4-6 6-4 in Doha to end Rybakina’s nine-match winning streak.“Going into the match I knew it was going to be a really hard battle and I wanted to stay calm,” said Mboko, who claimed her second victory over Rybakina in four meetings.

“I didn’t really have that many expectations because she has a great record now — she just won the Australian Open. I knew I had to play my ‘A’ game. Against higher-profile players, you always have to raise your level.”

Mboko began the 2025 season ranked outside the top 300 but has surged to 13th. She became the youngest player since Serena Williams to defeat four major champions in a single tournament when she claimed last year’s Canadian Open in Montreal.

She will face former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals later on Friday, with a victory set to secure her top-10 debut on Monday.“I’m expecting another hard battle,” Mboko said.

“She knows these courts well and understands the environment. It’ll be important to put up a fight.”