Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko clinched her first WTA Tour title at the Canadian Open on Friday (AEST), overcoming a rough start to triumph over Naomi Osaka with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. The 18-year-old’s victory propelled her ranking from 85th to 25th in the world, making her one of only three Canadians to win this prestigious home event in the open era, alongside Faye Urban (1969) and Bianca Andreescu (2019).
Mboko’s achievement is particularly notable as she became the second-youngest player in open era history to eliminate four Grand Slam champions in a single tournament, only surpassed by Serena Williams at the 1999 US Open. After Osaka’s final shot hit the net, Mboko collapsed to the court in disbelief, with the cheering crowd erupting in jubilation. She immediately ran to embrace her family and coaches, showcasing the emotional weight of her victory.
In her post-match remarks, Mboko expressed gratitude, saying, “It’s been an incredible week here in Montreal. Montreal, je vous aime!” Meanwhile, Osaka, who had not competed for 15 months after the birth of her daughter, acknowledged the crowd’s applause with mixed feelings and did not speak to the media afterward but greeted Mboko with a smile and handshake at the net.
The match featured a total of 13 service breaks in 25 games, with Mboko managing to convert eight of her nine break points despite struggling with a wrist issue and recording 13 double faults during the contest. Growing up in Toronto but born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Congolese parents, Mboko displayed remarkable skill throughout the tournament, defeating major champions including top-seed Coco Gauff.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner, delivered her best performance in a WTA 1000 event since reaching the Miami final in 2022. However, she has not won a match since the 2021 Australian Open, having faced significant challenges in her return to competitive tennis.
Mboko’s victory is historic, as she is the third wildcard to win a WTA 1000 title, following in the footsteps of Maria Sharapova in 2011 and Andreescu in 2019. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney praised Mboko’s performance on social media, while CBC sports reporter Devin Heroux highlighted her resilience and the thrilling atmosphere of the hometown crowd. Tennis journalist José Morgado described the win as “FAIRYTALE … INCREDIBLE stuff,” encapsulating the excitement surrounding this young athlete’s significant triumph.