Victoria Mboko eyes Top 20 debut after battling past gal pal Alexandra Eala in Hong Kong
"I’ve known her for such a long time, so that made it a little emotional."
Victoria Mboko is approaching her Top 20 debut after reaching back-to-back quarterfinals.
Victory Thursday didn’t come easy for the 19-year-old, for multiple reasons. Across the net was her pal Alexandra Eala, who like Mboko, has enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 on the WTA Tour.
🖥️📲 The Match In 15 Minutes: Mboko vs. Eala, Hong Kong
The No. 3 seed found herself down 1-4 in the decisive set, before reeling off the final five games to secure the 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.
“It’s never easy to play one of your friends. I’ve known her for such a long time, so that made it a little emotional,” Mboko said in her on-court interview. “I really had to fight for every single point. I think it was just an unbelievable match.”
Her connection with Eala is a close one, evident by the second embrace the two shared when the Filipino exited the court. As Mboko shared with the WTA’s website, “We'll go and get bubble tea together, we do the most wholesome things together."
In August, Mboko captured her first tour-level title with an incredible Montreal run to win the WTA 1000 event. A four-match losing streak following that crowning moment, but the Canadian has bounced back as her season approaches the finish line.
“It’s my first Asia swing, first time in Hong Kong. I hope to go for it all,” Mboko said.
Anna Kalinskaya stands between her and the semifinals. Mboko, ranked a career-high No. 21 this week, is projected to climb three spots if she advances past the No. 6 seed.