Victoria Mboko was unable to maintain her outstanding title last summer.
The 19-year-old Canadian lost 7-6 (5) to Russia’s Anastasia Potapova in the second round of the China Open on Saturday.
Mboko has lost two games since winning the National Bank Open title in Montreal in August.
The Canadian suffered a wrist injury in the NBO semifinals and didn’t seem to go all out when she lost 6-3, 6-2 to Czech Barbora Krejcikova in the first round.
Saturday was Mboko’s first game since losing on August 26. The 21st seed in the tournament and the 23rd seed in the world, Mboko won the first round for being a seed player in the WTA Tour 1000 event.
Potapava ranks 59th in the world. She ranks 21st in her career in 2023.
Mboko defeated Potapova in Washington in July.
The 25th seed Leylah Fernandez is the only Canadian in the competition. She faced Coco Gauff, the United States No. 2, in the third round on Saturday.
