August 08, (THEWILL) — Eighteen-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko claimed her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour title with a remarkable comeback victory against former world number one Naomi Osaka at the Canadian Open final in Montreal on Thursday night.
Mboko, who entered the tournament on a wild card, overcame a one-set deficit and a troublesome wrist to defeat Osaka 2-6 6-4 6-1 in front of more than 11,000 delirious home supporters.
The triumph marks the fourth time in seven matches that the rising star has defeated a Grand Slam champion during the 2025 season.
The final appeared destined for a swift conclusion as Mboko lost the opening set 6-2, mirroring her semi-final performance against Elena Rybakina 24 hours earlier.
However, the teenager demonstrated extraordinary composure, unleashing a formidable backhand and displaying nerves beyond her years to shift the momentum.
The critical moment arrived at 2-1 in the deciding set when Mboko saved three break points during an emotionally charged game that left Osaka visibly distressed and unable to regain her form.
Mboko’s ascent through the tennis world has been nothing short of meteoric, with the Canadian winning 51 of 60 matches in 2025 across various tiers of the sport.
Having ended the previous year ranked outside the top 350, she now stands at world number 25 following her Montreal triumph.
Her path to the title included victories over world number two Coco Gauff, 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, Rybakina, and the four-time major winner Osaka, establishing her as a formidable presence on the WTA Tour.
For Osaka, the defeat represented another frustrating chapter in her return to tennis, having been close to claiming her first title in four and a half years.
The Japanese player had shown improvement throughout the tournament, with sharper footwork and a notable second-round victory where she saved two match points against Liudmila Samsonova.
Following the match, Osaka admitted her emotions had overwhelmed her, stating: “This morning I was very grateful. I do not know why my emotions flipped so quickly, but I am really happy to have played the final.”
The victory in Montreal is a significant milestone for Mboko, who has consistently proven her ability to perform under pressure on increasingly larger stages.
“I want to thank every single one of you who came out to support me all week,” Mboko told the ecstatic crowd during the trophy ceremony. “You were incredible.”
With her combination of power, tactical awareness, and mental fortitude, the teenager appears destined for further success as her rapid rise through the rankings continues unabated.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
