
Mboko reaches Strasbourg semis following victory over Fernandez
Victoria Mboko booked her place in the semi-finals in Strasbourg with a straight-sets victory over Canadian compatriot Leylah Fernandez.
The first seed won 6-4 6-4 in 93 minutes to boost her momentum ahead of next week's French Open.
Mboko wasted little time at the start of the first set, converting two of her first three break points and giving away just two points in her first three service games as she led 5-1.
However, Fernandez managed to get a break back, but though Mboko squandered her first six set points, she took the lead at the seventh time of asking.
Fernandez struggled at the start of the second set, losing her first two service games as Mboko moved into a 3-0 lead.
The 19-year-old did drop a service game to give Fernandez some hope of a comeback, but quickly found her rhythm and sealed victory with her second match point.
Match Point during Golden Hour!
— wta (@WTA) May 21, 2026
Victoria Mboko secures her spot in the semifinals after defeating Fernandez 6-4, 6-4.#IS26 pic.twitter.com/Sxqb8DQX31
Mboko will face Jaqueline Cristian in the last four after the Romanian defeated Daria Kasatkina 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-2.
On the other side of the draw, Emma Navarro came from behind to defeat Shuai Zhang 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
Navarro will go up against a fellow American in Ann Li in the semi-finals, after the latter defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-3 7-5.
Data Debrief: More quarter-final misery for Fernandez
Mboko has now reached her third semi-final of the year, following Adelaide and Doha; she lost in the final of both of those competitions.
Fernandez, meanwhile, has now lost at the quarter-final stage for the third time during this European clay swing, also falling in the last eight in Madrid and Stuttgart.
Her serve let her down against Mboko as she committed eight double faults and won just 59% of her first serve points.











