The Canadian Open semi-final between American players Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz faced a temporary suspension due to problems with the electronic line-calling system, which were labelled “amateur” by tennis journalist José Morgado. After warming up, both players returned to the locker room as the issue arose and there were no available line judges to assist during the 15-minute delay.
In a notable twist at the tournament, ninth seed Elena Rybakina was unexpectedly knocked out by local wildcard Victoria Mboko, who triumphed with a three-set victory, scoring 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4). This match, lasting nearly three hours, marked Mboko’s advance to her first WTA final following previous upsets against Sofía Kenin and top seed Coco Gauff.
Rybakina, who had been in control at 5-3 in the deciding set and once again at 6-5, fell apart, losing critical points that led to her exit from the competition. The defeat was an emotional blow for Rybakina, who has had a mixed season with notable successes yet ongoing struggles to maintain momentum in crucial matches. Meanwhile, Mboko expressed her disbelief and joy after the win, indicating a substantial rise in her ranking from outside the top 300 earlier this year.
The final at the Canadian Open will see Mboko compete against Naomi Osaka, who secured her place by defeating Clara Tauson 6-2, 7-6(7). The outcomes at this tournament reflect the unpredictable nature of tennis, as highlighted by the unexpected turns in both players’ journeys thus far.