National Bank's Omnium tournament sees Mboko advance to the semifinals
Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old Canadian tennis sensation, has made a significant impact on the WTA Tour by reaching the semifinals of the Banque Nationale Open in Montreal. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Congolese parents and raised in Toronto, Mboko has been turning heads with her impressive performances.
Mboko's rise in the tennis world began with success on the ITF World Tennis Tour. In 2022, she claimed her first professional singles title at the ITF W25 tournament in Saskatoon and successfully defended it in 2023. Early in 2025, she won five ITF events consecutively, significantly boosting her form and confidence.
The young prodigy started the year ranked No. 333 but has since climbed to a projected rank of No. 24 following her remarkable run in Montreal.
A Series of Upsets in Montreal
Mboko's breakthrough at the Banque Nationale Open included a string of upset victories over elite players. She defeated world number 2 and tournament favourite, American Coco Gauff, in a closely contested match that saw many break points exchanged. Mboko demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure, despite facing three break points.
In the quarterfinals, Mboko defeated Spanish player Jessica Bouzas Maneiro with scores of 6-4, 6-2. This victory set her up for a semifinal clash with Elena Rybakina, the world number 12. Rybakina previously defeated Mboko last week in Washington, but the young Canadian will be eager to turn the tables.
The Road to the Finals
The other quarter-finals of the Montreal tournament will take place on Tuesday evening, featuring Madison Keys (8th in the world) against Danish Clara Tauson (19), and Elina Svitolina (13) against Japanese Naomi Osaka (49). The winners of these matches will meet in the other semi-final on Wednesday, with Mboko and Rybakina squaring off in the evening's second match.
The women's and men's legs of the Banque Nationale Open will conclude with the finals on Thursday evening, spanning 12 days instead of the usual 7.
A Star on the Rise
Guillaume Marx, Vice-President of High Performance at Tennis Canada, has commended Mboko's strong ball strike and power, precision, and consistency in her serve, forehand, and backhand. He observed that Mboko's world is changing following her remarkable run in the tournament.
Mboko's family, including her three older siblings who also play tennis, have been a constant source of support. The crowd in Montreal has shown their appreciation for Mboko, applauding her every move during the nearly two-hour match and singing a popular success song to her at the end.
As Mboko prepares for her semifinal match against Rybakina, the tennis world eagerly awaits to see if she can continue her remarkable run and potentially claim the Banque Nationale Open title.
[1] Tennis Canada
[2] ESPN
[3] The Globe and Mail
[4] Sportsnet
[5] CBC
- Remarkably, Victoria Mboko's tennis prowess isn't exclusive to the WTA Tour or hard courts, as she has expressed a desire to compete in French Open, showcasing her ambition to conquer both clay and grass courts.
- Amidst the Canadian tennis sensation's raw talent in sports like tennis, Mboko revealed her interest in embracing the French culture, which she finds alluring and aspirational, hinting at the possibility of learning the French language in the future.
