In a stunning display of resilience and raw talent, 18-year-old Canadian tennis sensation Victoria Mboko overcame a wrist injury and a one-set deficit to defeat former world number one Naomi Osaka in the final of the 2025 Canadian Open. The electrifying match, held in front of a raucous crowd in Montreal, saw Mboko claw her way back to a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory, securing her first WTA Tour title and etching her name in Canadian tennis history.
Ranked 85th at the start of the tournament, Mboko began 2025 outside the top 300. Her meteoric rise now places her at 25th in the world, an extraordinary leap that reflects the magnitude of her achievement. She joins the exclusive club of Canadian women, alongside Faye Urban in 1969 and Bianca Andreescu in 2019, who have won the prestigious home event in the Open Era.
The final against Osaka was as dramatic as it was emotional. After dropping the first set, Mboko regrouped in the second, showing composure and determination. The turning point came early in the third set when she fought off four break points in a pivotal game to take a 3-1 lead. From there, her momentum was unstoppable. When Osaka netted a return on match point, Mboko collapsed to her knees in disbelief, before rushing to embrace her family and coaches.
Despite her swollen wrist, sustained during a fall in the semi-final against Elena Rybakina, Mboko displayed grit beyond her years. After undergoing X-rays and an MRI just hours before the final, she was cleared to play and chose to fight through the pain. Her decision paid off in what became the most defining performance of her career so far.
Throughout the week in Montreal, Mboko’s performance was nothing short of heroic. She dismantled a host of seasoned players, including top-seeded Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin, Rybakina, and finally, Osaka. Her thrilling run captured the hearts of fans, with the Montreal crowd so enthusiastic that the umpire repeatedly pleaded for silence during points.
Reflecting on her win, Mboko described the experience as “surreal,” saying, “I would have never thought something like this would have come so suddenly. It just proves that your dreams are closer than they seem.” She added, “Montreal, je vous aime,” sealing her connection with the local fans.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Congolese parents and raised in Toronto, Mboko began the year by winning four ITF World Tennis Tour events and a fifth in March. Her breakthrough at the Grand Slam level came earlier this year when she reached the third round of the French Open and stunned 25th-seeded Magdalena Frech at Wimbledon.
Now under the guidance of former world number three and Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat, Mboko’s rise is not just remarkable, it signals the arrival of a new force in women’s tennis. With youth, heart, and a growing list of accolades on her side, Victoria Mboko’s Canadian Open triumph is more than just a victory; it’s the beginning of a promising legacy.
