Home Crowd Roars as Local Star Rallies Past Four-Time Major Champion
Eighteen-year-old Victoria Mboko delivered a career-defining performance in Montreal, storming back from a set down to shock former World No.1 Naomi Osaka and capture the Canadian Open title. In front of an electric home crowd, the world No.85 triumphed 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, sealing a fairytale run that saw her topple a string of Grand Slam champions.
From Nerves to Nerves of Steel
Osaka came out firing in the opening set, dictating rallies with her trademark power and precision. Mboko, appearing in her first WTA 1000 final, looked unsettled early but refused to wilt. Gradually finding her rhythm, the Canadian began matching Osaka’s pace, mixing pinpoint shot-making with fearless court coverage.
When Mboko leveled the match with a gritty second-set win, momentum shifted sharply. Osaka’s forehand began to misfire, her frustration mounting as Mboko chased down seemingly unreachable balls. In one defining moment, the Japanese star appeared to give up on a rally—only for Mboko to sprint in and rip a winner down the line, igniting the crowd.
A Title Run for the Ages
By the deciding set, Mboko was untouchable (check those deciding set stats). She raced through the final games, dropping her racket in disbelief as Osaka’s last shot found the net. The victory capped 2 weeks in which she ousted four major champions: Sofia Kenin in the first round, Coco Gauff in the round of 16, Elena Rybakina in the semis, and finally Osaka for the title.
Mboko vs Osaka – Deciding Set Stats
| Statistic | Mboko | Osaka |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.40 | 0.71 |
| Serve Rating | 226 | 110 |
| Aces | 1 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 61% (20/33) | 46% (13/28) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 60% (12/20) | 38% (5/13) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 38% (5/13) | 27% (4/15) |
| Break Points Saved | 80% (4/5) | 0% (0/4) |
| Service Games | 67% (2/3) | 0% (0/4) |
| Ace % | 3% | 3.6% |
| Double Fault % | 3% | 7.1% |
| Return Rating | 335 | 155 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 62% (8/13) | 40% (8/20) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 73% (11/15) | 62% (8/13) |
| Break Points Won | 100% (4/4) | 20% (1/5) |
| Return Games | 100% (4/4) | 33% (1/3) |
| Pressure Points | 89% (8/9) | 11% (1/9) |
| Service Points | 52% (17/33) | 32% (9/28) |
| Return Points | 68% (19/28) | 48% (16/33) |
| Total Points | 59% (36/61) | 41% (25/61) |
| Max Points In A Row | 4 | 4 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Total Games | 86% (6/7) | 14% (1/7) |
| Max Games In A Row | 5 | 1 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Match Duration | 0h 44m | |
With her first WTA 1000 crown and a guaranteed debut in the world’s top 50, Mboko now turns her focus to the US Open, where she’ll arrive as one of the tour’s hottest young contenders. Montreal may have been her breakthrough—but it might just be the start of something bigger.