Underdog Victoria Mboko Defeats Naomi Osaka to Claim Canadian Open Crown
Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old Canadian tennis star, made history by claiming the 2022 Canadian Open title, defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a thrilling three-set match. Mboko fought back from a set down and overcame a wrist injury to secure a memorable victory, winning 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The match, played in front of a passionate home crowd in Montreal, saw Mboko display remarkable resilience after losing the first set. She adjusted her game and took control of the second and third sets, capitalising on Osaka's errors, including a crucial net shot on match point.
Mboko's win marks her first WTA Tour title and follows Bianca Andreescu in 2019 as the second Canadian champion in the Open Era. The teenager entered the tournament as a wild card and has been praised for her impressive performance.
The key details of the match include Mboko's comeback from a 2-6 first-set loss, her victory over a wrist injury sustained in the semifinals, and the significant cheering from the crowd despite requests from the umpire to keep quiet during points.
In the final set, Mboko scored a break of Osaka's serve in the third game and saved four break points in the fourth game, setting herself up for the biggest win of her career. Mboko is the third wild card to win a WTA 1000 title, following Maria Sharapova (Cincinnati, 2011) and Bianca Andreescu (Indian Wells, 2019).
Speaking after the match, Mboko expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to play in Montreal and thanked Osaka for an incredible match. She also admitted that she had looked up to Osaka when she was younger.
Mboko's victory in the Canadian Open final is being hailed as a breakthrough and a sign of emerging new talent in Canadian tennis. The teenager beat Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Sofia Kenin during the tournament, rising from a ranking of No. 333 at the start of the year to No. 25 in the world after the victory.
Osaka, who had recently returned from a 15-month break, had competed at a high level but ultimately could not sustain her momentum after the first set. The Japanese star had not won a tour title since 2019, when she claimed the Canadian Open.
The capacity crowd rose to its feet for the final time as Mboko denied Osaka of the title. Mboko's win is being celebrated as a dream run culminating in a coveted Canadian Open title.
In the thrilling 2022 Canadian Open final, 18-year-old Canadian tennis sensation Victoria Mboko, who entered the tournament as a wild card, shockingly defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a three-set match, marking her first WTA Tour title. This victory, played on the tennis courts of Montreal, showcased Mboko's incredible resilience and skill, particularly in the final set, where she decisively beat Osaka, despite the Japanese star's strong performance throughout the match.
