Canada’s Mboko falls in straight sets to Muchova in Qatar Open final

Victoria Mboko of Canada plays a backhand return to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

DOHA — Canada’s Victoria Mboko fell 6-4, 7-5 to Czechia’s Karolina Muchova in the women’s final at the Qatar Open on Saturday.

The 19-year-old from Toronto had four aces and one double fault while converting her only break-point opportunity.

Mboko, who is now 13-4 on the season in singles play, will move into a career-high No. 10 in the world rankings.

It was her second final of the season — she lost to Russian Mirra Andreeva in the Adelaide International final in January — and second 1000-level final of her career after winning last year’s National Bank Open in Montreal.

Muchova had two aces and two double faults, broke on two of her six chances but easily outdid Mboko on first-serve points won (77.8 per cent to 60.5 per cent).

It was the first meeting between the players.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2026.