Knockout Artist: Mboko Snaps Rybakina’s Win Streak, Cracks Top 10 and Reaches Doha SF

By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, February 12, 2026
Photo credit: Adelaide International Facebook

An explosive first step makes Victoria Mboko one of the fastest movers on the WTA Tour.

The 19-year-old Mboko continued her dominance going the distance with a massive Doha declaration today.

Down 2-4 in the decider, Mboko raced through four games in a row toppling Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to roar into the Doha semifinals—and crack the WTA Top 10 for the first time in the Live Rankings.

In a courageous performance, Mboko made late-set surges in both the first and last sets, rallying from 3-5 down in the opening set and breaking Rybakina when she served for the set.

“Going into the match I knew I would have to put up a really big fight,” Mboko said. “She’d just
won the Australian Open, I’ve previously played her three times, so I think I knew what to expect coming into the match, and that it wasn’t going to be easy at all.

“Yeah, I feel like we both had our ups and downs in the match. Both of us maybe not starting so great. I think when you’re not feeling your best and just getting it through, I think it feels good in a way when you’re able to pull it through.”

MORE: Sakkari Shocks Swiatek for Third Doha Semifinal

The second-seeded Rybakina had won 22 of her last 24 matches and crunched 11 aces against one double fault in this match. But Mboko drilled some timely returns and broke serve four times, including crucial breaks when Rybakina led in the first and final sets.

“I think she’s one of the best, I think she is the best server on tour,” said Mboko, who is 2-2 lifetime against Rybakina. “I think for her to hold it would have been a lot easier for her than for me.

“I mean, not putting so much expectation on myself to keep holding every single time consistently, I
think that just let me have less pressure on myself in the match and let me play freely. So sometimes I was
surprised to even break her.”

The 10th-seeded Mboko, who took a medical time-out after the first set to have her right forearm taped, snapped Rybakina’s nine-match winning streak and became the first teenager to reach the Doha final four since Jelena Ostapenko did it back in 2016.

Next, Mboko will play 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko for a spot in Saturday’s final. 

Earlier, Ostapenko powered into her ninth WTA 1000 semifinal sweeping Italian lucky loser Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5, 6-4 in 100 minutes. Cocciaretto had upset third-seeded Coco Gauff on Tuesday. 

Ranked No. 211 at this time last year, Mboko was playing primarily Challengers a year ago. The Canadian continues this remarkable rise up the rankings on the strength of her explosive all-court game, shrewd racquet skills and strong staying power.

Mboko, who was 16-3 in three-setters across all levels in 2025, has won 23 of her last 27 three-set matches across all levels. 

Opponents know when Mboko drags you the distance, you’re in for a fierce fight. Few recognize that fact more than Rybakina.

Six months ago, Mboko repelled Rybakina 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) to reach her maiden WTA Final in Montreal. Mboko went on to beat Naomi Osaka in the final—her fourth win over a former major champion in the event—to capture the Montreal crown before joyous home fans. 

In a streaky set to open today, Mboko broke first to take a 2-0 lead. Lashing deep drives inside the baseline, Rybakina responded winning five of the next six games for a 5-3 lead.

Just when it seemed she was out of the set, Mboko regrouped. The Canadian saved a couple of break points holding for 6-5.

Stepping well inside the baseline to pounce on a Rybakina second serve, Mboko blasted a backhand return crosscourt. A slipping Rybakina could not handle the strike as Mboko broke to snatch the opening set in one hour on a four-game run.

Mboko ripped 16 winners in the opening set.

After the first set, Mboko took an injury timeout for treatment for her right arm.

Dialing in her backhand return, Ryabakina cranked a two-hander down the line breaking for 2-1.

The two-time major champion rolled through a quick hold at 15 extending her lead to 3-1.

Throughout the first two sets, Mboko seemed to read the direction of the Kazakh’s second serve and sometimes stepped in to rip returns. Her wrapped right arm did not deter the Canadian on return. Stepping in, Mboko smoked a second serve return through the middle breaking back to level after six games.

In one of the longest games of the second set, Rybakina continued to apply pressure stretching the Canadian wide to draw the scattered wide backhand and break for 4-3. 

Serving for the second set, Rybakina opened and closed the game rocketing aces finishing a three-ace game to force a final set after one hour, 44 minutes.

Slamming an inside-out forehand, Rybakina earned a second break point in the fifth game of the final set. Pushing Mboko wide, Rybakina drew a netted backhand breaking for 3-2. 

Banging a backhand strike down the line helped Rybakina hold at 30 for a 4-2 third-set lead. That was the last game the Australian Open champion would win.

Throwing down a strong love hold in the seventh game, Mboko roared through eight of 10 points to break back. Sprinting into the corner for a fine defensive dig, Mboko broke back for 4-all when Rybakina shanked a wild forehand wide.

The backhand down the line was a key stroke for Mboko today, but she crossed up Rybakina striking a forehand down the line to hold for 5-4.

Showing superb touch, Mboko froze the 6’ Kazakh with a topspin lob winner for triple match point.

Down, but not out, Rybakina responded firing a forehand winner on the first match point, sliding a backhand off the sideline on the second match point and torching a forehand off the back edge of the baseline to save match point No. 3.

Fending off a body serve, Mboko smacked her trademark backhand down the line pass that Rybakina could not control for a fourth match point.

When Rybakina netted a final backhand, Mboko, who saved a match point fighting off Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva in the round of 16, scored her fourth career Top 10 win—and joined the Top 10 herself—in two hours, 23 minutes.