Australian Open Champion Elena Rybakina Stunned by Victoria Mboko at Qatar Open
Victoria Mboko, ranked 13th in the world, reached the semifinals of the Qatar Open after defeating Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals on February 13, 2026. Photo: APAustralian Open champion and the World No. 1 Elena Rybakina has been stunned by Canada’s Victoria Mboko in the quarterfinal of the Qatar Open on February 12. Rybakina went down 5-7, 6-4, 4-6 to Mboko in a hard-fought encounter that lasted more than two-and-a-half hours, marking one of the most significant wins of the Canadian teenager’s career.The contest lived up to expectations, with both players trading momentum across three closely contested sets and delivering high-quality tennis throughout. Mboko, the World No. 13, made a confident start, applying immediate pressure on Rybakina’s serve. She managed to break the Kazakh’s serve three times in the opening set, putting herself in a strong position. Although Mboko dropped her own serve twice, she remained composed during crucial moments and held firm to secure the set 7-5.Also Read: Novak Djokovic Wipes Away Tears Seeing Rafael Nadal: Admits to a 'Strange Feeling' at Australian Open FinalRybakina, known for her resilience and powerful baseline game, responded strongly in the second set. She capitalised on Mboko’s lapses and raised her intensity, breaking the Canadian twice. With improved consistency and control, Rybakina managed to dictate play for longer stretches and levelled the match by taking the set 6-4, forcing the contest into a decisive third set.In the final set, Mboko demonstrated composure and maturity beyond her years. The 19-year-old stayed focused under pressure, matched Rybakina in long rallies, and executed her game plan effectively. She seized her opportunity at a crucial stage and held her nerve to close out the set 6-4, sealing an impressive victory and booking her place in the semifinals.This was not the first time Mboko had troubled Rybakina. She had already defeated her in last year’s Montreal semifinals, and this latest triumph further underlined her growing confidence and ability to compete against top-level opponents. Despite being swept aside by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16 in Melbourne, Mboko has continued to show steady progress and strengthen her reputation on the tour.Also Read: Novak Djokovic Wipes Away Tears Seeing Rafael Nadal: Admits to a 'Strange Feeling' at Australian Open FinalMboko will now face last year’s runner-up Jelena Ostapenko in the Doha semifinals. The Latvian, who won the French Open in 2017, advanced to the last four after defeating Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5, 6-4, setting up an exciting semifinal clash.Latest NewsSudipta Biswas authorSudipta Biswas is a seasoned sports journalist with over a decade of experience in the Indian news media landscape. An alumnus of IIMC-Aizawl, he spec ... View MoreNewsSportsTennisEnd of Article
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