Victoria Mboko defies the odds, saving match point to defeat Mirra Andreeva in Doha
The tennis world witnessed a thrilling encounter as 19-year-old Victoria Mboko, ranked 10th, faced off against the 5th-ranked Mirra Andreeva in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open third round. This match was a highly anticipated rematch of their January Adelaide final, where Andreeva emerged victorious. But this time, Mboko had other ideas.
In a display of resilience and skill, Mboko saved a match point in the deciding set, turning the tide in her favor. She secured her first win over Andreeva with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) in just over two hours. Andreeva's opportunity to close out the match slipped away when she double-faulted on match point, 5-4 in the third set.
This victory marks Mboko's third career Top 10 triumph and her second WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance, following her stunning run to last year's Montreal title. She joins an elite group of players who have won from match point down twice in a single year, alongside Magdalena Frech. Mboko's remarkable comeback in Adelaide, where she saved two match points against Anna Kalinskaya, further solidifies her comeback story.
Since her Wimbledon qualifying final loss to Priscilla Hon last year, Mboko has been on an impressive streak, winning 13 of her last 14 three-set matches. Her only loss in a deciding set came against Elise Mertens at the United Cup in January. With her next match against either Elena Rybakina or Zheng Qinwen, Mboko continues to make waves in the tennis world, leaving fans eager to see her progress.
