Ontario’s Victoria Mboko was stopped in the semi-finals of the U.S. Junior Open by Filipina Alexandra Eala on Friday.
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The 16-year-old was defeated in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(5). The rising star of Canadian tennis reached the semi-finals for the second time this season in a Junior Grand Slam, a step she had also reached at Wimbledon.
The 9th seed in the tournament was completely outplayed in the first set, but she took the upper hand in the second set by breaking to take a 3-1 lead. While serving for the set at 5-3, however, she was surprised by Eala who forced the tiebreaker. It was on a double fault that Mboko finally escaped the match.
The 17-year-old Filipina, a former ITF junior No. 2, is making a return to competition after a year-long hiatus. In the first round, she notably eliminated the Canadian Annabelle Xu.
It is the Czech Lucie Havlickova, the second seed, who will be waiting for her in the final of the tournament on Saturday.