Teen Star Mika Stojsavljevic Edges Kenin in Hong Kong Thriller

The Hong Kong Open witnessed a historic moment on Wednesday when 17-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic successfully navigated a difficult encounter to claim her debut WTA main-draw victory against American star Sofia Kenin.

Kenin, a former Australian Open champion, started strongly, racing to a 3-0 advantage in the middle set. But Stojsavljevic’s mental fortitude shone through as she reversed the momentum, winning the third set 6-4 after dropping the second 6-4, ultimately claiming the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

It took the British prospect six main-draw invitations to register this win, underscoring her perseverance. Her latest triumph follows an April campaign where she stunned Talia Gibson, then ranked 56th globally, during the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.

Her inclusion in the Hong Kong draw was the result of a fortunate bye. After losing in the final qualifying round, she stepped in as a replacement for Canadian Leylah Fernandez, who had pulled out of the tournament.

Hailing from the Ealing Tennis Club, where she started playing at age seven, Stojsavljevic’s junior career was marked by early excellence. She made headlines at 15 as the first British player to win the US Open junior title. She turned professional in 2025 after peaking at fifth in the junior world rankings.

Her senior calendar has been busy since then. A wildcard grant at Wimbledon 2025 opened the door to her first Grand Slam main draw, followed by qualifying appearances at Queen’s, Nottingham, and Eastbourne. She also showcased her growing strength by reaching the quarterfinals of the Birmingham WTA 125 event earlier this year.

In parallel action, Claire Liu continued her impressive form by defeating No. 8 seed Katie Boulter 7-5, 6-4. The loss serves as redemption for Boulter, who fell to Liu in the Guangzhou final last week, as Liu advances to her second consecutive quarterfinal.