A thrilling week at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open concluded on Sunday, with Canada’s Victoria Mboko beating Cristina Bucsa in a breathtaking final that stretched to three gruelling sets and nearly three hours, ultimately ending 7-5, 6-7 (9-11), 6-2.

The victory marks the second title of Mboko’s season, but the significance of winning at Victoria Park Center Court in Hong Kong was palpable, as the 19-year-old sank to her knees after winning the championship point.

“It’s been an incredible week here; it’s such a beautiful city,” Mboko said.

“It’s been incredible here, especially this tournament. It’s run beautifully, and the food here is amazing. And, yeah, I think it’s one of the best 250s out there. So it’s really nice to have this tournament as one of the last tournaments of the season, where everyone and all the players can kind of end on like a good week.”

The first set was a masterclass in resilience, featuring six deuce games and 11 break points. Just when it seemed Mboko had seized control at 5-2, the experienced Spaniard demonstrated her fighting qualities, fending off a double set point and clawing her way back into contention. Yet, Mboko held her nerve, finally sealing the opener 7-5 after 64 minutes of intense, high-quality tennis.

Any notion that the match’s peak had passed was swiftly dismissed in a second set that will be remembered as one of the most thrilling of the entire tournament.

Riding the momentum, the World No. 21 Mboko stormed to a 3-0 lead. But Bucsa refused to fade. The World No. 68 shifted her tactics, transforming into the aggressor and storming the net with relentless purpose to disrupt Mboko’s rhythm. She fought off another break point before also winning three consecutive games to level the set.

What followed was a breathtaking display of power and precision from both sides of the net. Mboko, finding another gear, began firing down aces, with four of her total of nine coming in the latter stages of the set. Bucsa, in retaliation, broke to lead 6-5, only for Mboko to break back immediately, forcing a tiebreak that pushed both athletes to their absolute limits.

The tiebreak was a tense, back-and-forth battle that extended to 20 points.

With the match hanging in the balance and the energy in Victoria Park at a fever pitch, it was Mboko who showcased the heart of a champion. Digging deep, she secured a crucial early break in the third set. The defining moment came when she fought off two break points from a determined Bucsa to hold her serve.

From there, the Canadian’s confidence soared. She continued to apply pressure, secured a second, final break, and coolly served out the championship after two hours and fifty-one minutes of unforgettable tennis.

The personal significance of the victory was then beautifully illustrated when, before the trophy presentation, she emerged from the dressing room and climbed into the stands to share a long, emotional embrace with her father.

“I feel like it was such high-quality tennis from Christina. She was a fighter,” Mboko said. “Even when she was down in the match, she was able to come back and hit some amazing shots, play some amazing points.

“So I feel like I really had to stay in there with her and try my best to bring out my full power. I mean, at the end, I felt really exhausted. So I mean, I want to give huge credits here.”

“I’m very proud of being in the final, and also the great year that I’ve had,” Bucsa said after the match. “Thanks to Victoria for such a great final.”

And earlier in the day, the celebration of Chinese tennis was equally vibrant when mainland duo Jiang Xinyu and Wang Yafan were crowned doubles champions. They delivered a commanding performance, defeating the international pair of Momoko Kobori (Japan) and Peangtarn Plipuech (Thailand) 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 12 minutes.

The victory held special meaning for both players. For Jiang, it was a remarkable third doubles title of the season, but for Wang, a player who primarily focuses on singles, it was a maiden WTA doubles title.

“We didn’t think we could become the champions, because in the previous tournaments, we didn’t play so well,” Wang said.

“This is the last tournament, and we just wanted some game time together because the next tournament is the National Games,” Wang explained. “I was injured for around six months, so we didn’t get to play much together this year. We played together only once at the US Open. I’m feeling more confident now, and we know better what we need to do next week.”