Victoria Mboko delivered one of the most remarkable runs in Canadian tennis history, defeating Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to win the Canadian Open on home soil.
The 18-year-old wildcard overcame a shaky start to secure her first-ever WTA Tour title. She became only the third Canadian to win the tournament in the Open era, joining Faye Urban in 1969 and Bianca Andreescu in 2019. Her victory capped an astonishing week in Montreal where she beat four Grand Slam champions in seven matches.
The final began with Osaka in full control, taking the first set with ease. Mboko, however, found her rhythm in the second set, matching Osaka’s pace and punishing short balls. By the decider, the teenager was dictating rallies as the crowd roared with every point.
Her triumph was made even more dramatic by the fact she played with a swollen, stiff wrist. She had fallen in her semifinal match and spent the morning of the final at the hospital for scans. “I just kept saying to myself, ‘You have one more to go,’” Mboko said, still in disbelief at her win.
When Osaka’s final shot found the net, Mboko fell to her knees before sprinting to embrace her family and coaches. “It was kind of a surreal experience,” she said. “It just proves that your dreams are closer than they seem.”
The atmosphere inside the Borteyman Sports Complex was electric, with fans so loud that the umpire repeatedly urged them to be quiet between points. Mboko addressed the crowd in French after lifting the trophy, declaring her love for Montreal.
Statistically, the match was wild, featuring 13 service breaks in 25 games. Mboko converted eight of nine break points, using sharp returns to counter Osaka’s big serve. Despite 13 double-faults, she maintained composure in the biggest moments.
Osaka, still on the comeback trail after her 15-month break and the birth of her daughter, reached her first WTA 1000 final since 2022. She left the court without congratulating Mboko and later declined media interviews.
For Mboko, the victory means a leap from world No. 85 to No. 25 and a place among the youngest champions in WTA 1000 history. More than that, it signals the rise of a fearless new star in women’s tennis.
