Victoria Mboko Closes in on WTA Top 10 with Rybakina Upset

Canadian teen Mboko beats Rybakina

Victoria Mboko, 19, stunned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in Qatar Open quarter-finals, putting her in contention for a top 10 debut.

“She knows these courts well and knows the environment. It'll be important to put up a fight...”

Victoria Mboko is making waves in the tennis world. The 19-year-old Canadian sensation stunned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina with a thrilling 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win in the Qatar Open quarter-finals, snapping Rybakina's nine-match winning streak.

This impressive victory puts Mboko on the cusp of entering the WTA top 10 for the first time. She's currently ranked 13th and will face former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals. A win against Ostapenko will secure Mboko's top-10 debut.

“Going into the match I knew it was going to be a ‌really hard battle and I wanted ⁠to stay calm,” said Mboko, who picked up her second victory over Rybakina in four meetings.

“I didn't really have that many expectations because she has a great record now, she just won the Australian Open. Going into the ⁠match I knew I had to play my 'A' game.

“I do understand that the higher profile players you play, you're going to have to raise your ‌level.”

She started the 2025 season ranked outside the top 300, but her impressive performance has catapulted her to 13th in the world rankings. Her remarkable journey includes beating four major winners in a single tournament, a feat only achieved by Serena Williams at the 1999 US Open.

The Final Four🤩@MercedesBenz | #QatarTotalEnergiesOpen pic.twitter.com/XeKaylCx80

— wta (@WTA) February 12, 2026

Mboko's next challenge is former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the Doha semi-finals. A win will secure her top 10 debut on Monday, a testament to her hard work and dedication. Her fearless and aggressive playing style has drawn comparisons to Williams, and many are predicting a bright future for this talented young player.

“I'm expecting another hard battle,” Mboko said.

“She knows these courts well and knows the environment. It'll be important to put up a fight.”

Karolina Muchova is facing Maria Sakkari in the other semifinal match-up at the Qatar Open 2026. Muchova, ranked 14th, has been in top form, not dropping a set until now, while Sakkari, ranked 52nd, is on a roll after stunning top seed Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals.

Muchova leads their head-to-head 4-1, with their last meeting at the 2023 Cincinnati Open ending 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in Muchova's favor. Sakkari is looking to turn the tables, having shown impressive form this week.