Tech issue delays semi final after Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko stuns ninth seed
Updated . First published at
The Canadian Open semi-final between Americans Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz was delayed following issues, described as "amateur" with the electronic line-calling system.
After warming up, the players were forced to return to the locker room in Toronto with play suspended and no back-up line judges to stand in for tech failure.
The electronic line-calling system was back up and running after 15 minutes.
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Match officials discuss the problem with the electronic line-calling system at Sobeys Stadium. X
Respected tennis journalist José Morgado labelled the hold-up "ridiculous".
"It's unbelievable," he wrote on X.
"Especially in a day with only one court in play. Amateurish stuff."
The delay came after ninth seed Elena Rybakina was stunningly booted from the tournament, defeated by local wildcard Victoria Mboko in three sets on Thursday morning (AEST).
After two hours and 46 minutes, Mboko prevailed 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) to book her place in her first-ever WTA final on Friday.
The teenager has been on a giant-killing run, beating Sofia Kenin in the first round and top seed Coco Gauff in the third.
Elena Rybakina congratulates Victoria Mboko after her victory in their semi-final clash. Minas Panagiotakis via Getty Images
However, the story of the match was Rybakina's capitulation.
The Ukrainian star led 5-3 in the third, then again served for the match at 6-5 before losing six consecutive points to crumble with the finish line in sight.
After claiming victory, Mboko became overwhelmed with emotion, falling to her knees and covering her face in disbelief.
The win will see a significant rise in the WTA rankings for Mboko, who was outside of the top 300 at the start of this year.
"One of the most incredible tennis stories in recent years," Morgado posted to X.
"She now has 52 wins in 2025. Absolutely insane stuff."
Victoria Mboko celebrates her victory against Elena Rybakina at the Canadian Open. Minas Panagiotakis via Getty Images
It has been a turbulent season for Rybakina.
While the 26-year-old has tasted success this year, including a title win in Strasbourg and second-week appearances at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, she has also endured some surprising defeats after letting leads slip away.
Her disheartening losses include a quarter-final defeat at the German Open where she squandered four match points against Aryna Sabalenka, a shock third-round exit at Wimbledon to 23rd seed Clara Tauson, and a quarter-final loss to unseeded Tatjana Maria at the Queen's Club despite holding a second-set lead.
"I honestly don't think I've ever seen a top-calibre player lose so many close matches from winning positions, unfailingly, in such a short space of time," pundit Bastien Fachan wrote on X.
Mboko will face Naomi Osaka in the final in Montreal after the Japanese star defeated Clara Tauson 6-2, 7-6(7).
