Teenager Victoria Mboko from Canada progresses to the semi-finals of the NBO tournament in Montreal
In an extraordinary turn of events at the National Bank Open in Montreal, 19-year-old Canadian tennis sensation Victoria Mboko has stunned the tennis world by clinching the WTA 1000 title as a wild card entrant. This triumph catapults Mboko to the No. 25 ranking in the world, a dramatic rise from her initial position of No. 85 at the tournament's start.
Mboko's journey to the title was nothing short of spectacular. She overcame some tough challenges, including defeating four Grand Slam champions in the tournament: Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff (the world No. 1 seed), Elena Rybakina (No. 3 seed), and Naomi Osaka in the final. This feat is a rare achievement in the Open Era, last accomplished by Ons Jabeur and Elina Svitolina at Wimbledon 2023.
The victory over Gauff and Rybakina, both top seeds and high-ranking players, is particularly noteworthy given Mboko's previous ranking outside the top 80. Her win against Bouzas Maneiro in the quarterfinals, with a score of 6-4, 6-2, further solidified her position in the tournament.
Mboko's performance in Montreal marks her first WTA Tour-level title, making her only the fifth wildcard to win a WTA 1000 title since 1990. Her calm and composed demeanour, particularly evident in tight situations, has been a key factor in her success.
The tournament has been wide open, with the top-five seeds failing to reach the quarterfinals. Mboko's run to the semifinals makes her the first Canadian to do so since Bianca Andreescu's title run in 2019. Mboko opened the season with a 22-match winning streak and captured five titles on the lower-tier ITF Tour.
In the semifinals, Mboko will face Elena Rybakina, after Rybakina's opponent, Marta Kostyuk, retired due to a wrist injury. The young Canadian will be aiming to continue her impressive form and secure a place in the final.
Mboko's victory at the National Bank Open is just the latest in a series of impressive performances this year. She reached the third round at the French Open and stunned 25th seed Magdalena Frech in the first round at Wimbledon. She has dropped just one set in the National Bank Open, with wins over Kimberly Birrell, Sofia Kenin, Marie Bouzkova, and Coco Gauff.
As the last Canadian remaining in singles at the National Bank Open, Mboko's success is a source of immense pride for her home country. Her calm and composed approach, coupled with her exceptional skills, has earned her a place among the world's top tennis players. The future certainly looks bright for this promising young talent.
Tennis has been the focus of Mboko's extraordinary run at the National Bank Open in Montreal, with her clinching the WTA 1000 title in a wild card entry propelling her to No. 25 in the world rankings. Furthermore, her performance in the tournament, including victories over four Grand Slam champions and the top seeds Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina, highlights her growing prowess in sports.
