Victoria Mboko into semi-finals at Hong Kong Tennis Open 2025 as Anna Kalinskaya retires in second set

Victoria Mboko continues her rampant run as she booked her spot in the 2025 Hong Kong Tennis Open semi-finals.

The Canadian starlet won by walkover on Friday (31 October) after world No. 35 Anna Kalinskaya retired in the second set. Mboko had won the first set, and won the quarter-final in 48 minutes with a 6-1, 3-1 ret. scoreline in Hong Kong, China.

For Kalinskaya, it is a disappointing end to a season in which she peaked at No. 14. The sixth seed paused twice to receive medical attention from a physio before conceding the match.

Mboko has been in stunning form at the WTA 250 tournament. This run sees her break into the top 20 of the WTA rankings for the first time in her career.

The 19-year-old was clinical on her service game, tallying up an 85.7 per cent first serve percentage and winning 10 out of 12 points on her first serve. She was not broken once and saved six break points.

Third seed Mboko will meet another seed in the semi-finals, either world No. 45 Sorana Cirstea of Romania or Canadian compatriot Leylah Fernandez.

In the other final four clash, the last remaining unseeded player meets another 19-year-old semi-finalist: Olympic doubles bronze medallist Cristina Bucsa of Spain goes up against Australia’s Maya Joint.

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