Rising star Mboko sets up Qatar Open final against Muchova

Doha, Qatar: Victoria Mboko advanced to the second WTA 1000 final of her career and secured her top 10 debut in next week s world rankings with a comm...

Doha, Qatar: Victoria Mboko advanced to the second WTA 1000 final of her career and secured her top-10 debut in next week's world rankings with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over Jelena Ostapenko at the Qatar Open on Friday.

The 19-year-old, who claimed back-to-back top-10 wins in the previous two rounds over Mirra Andreeva and recent Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, is the first Canadian finalist in the tournament's history.

For a shot at a second career 1000-level title, Mboko will take on Czech 14th seed Karolina Muchova, who came back from a set and a break down to defeat Greece's Maria Sakkari 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

"It's crazy. She was playing really great tennis from the start, so I felt like I had to step it up," said Mboko, who is playing in Doha for the first time this week.

Mboko started 2025 ranked 333 in the world and has rocketed up the charts in spectacular fashion, thanks to WTA title runs in Montreal and Hong Kong last season.