Photo: Riley Deacon
It was another week to remember for Victoria Mboko in Saskatoon as the 16-year-old Canadian successfully defended her title at the $60,000 ITF World Tennis Tour event after defeating third-seeded American Emina Bektas, ranked no. 140 on the WTA rankings, 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s singles final.
Mboko faced only one break point in the entire match and as a result, needed just one break of serve in each set to come out victorious and lift the trophy for the second straight year. She did not drop a set all tournament en route to the crown and proved once again how much she feels at home playing in Saskatoon.
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This was Mboko’s first final since capturing her first professional title in Saskatoon last July when it was a $25,000 event and she defeated American Madison Seig 6-2, 6-0 in the final. It was upgraded to a $60,000 tournament for 2023 which makes her run this year all the more impressive. Not only did the prize money increase, but also the ranking points which means that she will achieve a career-best ranking of no. 332 on Monday which represents a 145-spot jump compared to where she was before Wimbledon.
Mboko will now head to Quebec to compete in the Granby National Bank Championships beginning Monday. She joins a strong Canadian contingent in the women’s draw that is led by Rebecca Marino and Katherine Sebov.
Bicknell Crowned Champion in Laval
Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Blaise Bicknell of Jamaica took home top honours in singles at the inaugural $25,000 men’s event in Laval, Quebec thanks to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over seventh-seeded American James Tracy in the championship match. The win is his first professional title in his second career final.
Canadian Joshua Lapadat and his American partner, JJ Mercer were crowned champions after successfully going through the draw without dropping a set.
