Victoria Mboko, 19, has just claimed her second WTA title after overcoming 68th-ranked Spaniard Cristina Bucsa 7-5 6-7 (9) 6-2 in the Hong Kong final.
Mboko opened a 5-2 lead before she started to complicate things and find herself tied to five games apiece after blowing three set points across two separate games and also failing to serve out for the first set. Fortunately for the third-seeded Canadian, she managed to hold her composure and serve out the 11th game before breaking Bucsa in the 12th game to take the opening set.
Following some drama in the first set, even bigger drama was seen in the second set as Mboko blew an early 3-0 lead before Bucsa stormed back and led 6-5 before failing to serve out for the second set in the 12th game. The tie-break brought more drama as the Canadian missed out on a championship point before the Spaniard realized her fourth set point to send the match into a decider.
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After two tight sets, the third set was a one-sided affair as Mboko claimed breaks in the first and seventh games - all while not losing her serve once - to complete her three-set win.
Mboko wins her second WTA title after a tough period behind her
In early August, the Canadian became a WTA champion in a stunning way after winning the 1000-category tournament in Montreal as a wildcard. After her Montreal run, the 19-year-old went on a four-match losing streak but she corrected that in Hong Kong.
By winning the WTA 250 tournament in Hong Kong, Mboko - who started the week ranked at No. 21 in the world - is also set to break inside the top-20 for the first time in her career and achieve a career-high ranking of No. 18 on Monday.
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Meanwhile, 27-year-old Bucsa was playing her first WTA final in Hong Kong and remains without a title.
