From the start, this site has promised to write little or nothing about the ATP. Yet every so often, we can’t resist. If Sinner or Alcaraz sign up for a tournament, you can bet that one—often both—will reach the final. The WTA is a completely different story. Montreal’s WTA1000 2025 edition is the latest, and perhaps best, example.
Four Semifinalists Who All Deserve Their Spot
With Elena Rybakina, Victoria Mboko, Naomi Osaka, and Clara Tauson in the semifinals, WTA fans have every reason to be thrilled. Not one of these players was widely expected to make it this far.
Rybakina has shown signs of vulnerability. Osaka has been working her way back for a long time. Tauson is coping with the loss of her grandfather. And then there’s Mboko—the Canadian sensation and surprise of the tournament. It’s hard to imagine a better semifinal lineup.
None of the four are currently ranked inside the top 10, though Rybakina could return there if she defeats home favorite Mboko. Yet all have battled their way into the final four.
The Beauty of WTA’s Unpredictability
It’s this unpredictability that makes the WTA so captivating. For tennis bettors, it’s a nightmare—perhaps the reason why many WTA players receive vitriolic messages on social media. One can only hope bettors will one day see the light and refrain from wagering altogether. But that same unpredictability can also frustrate bookmakers. Who should they favor—the players in form, or those with strong past results? For them, it must be a nightmare as well. So be it.
Matches can swing in any direction. Who saw Iga Świątek losing to Tauson? Or early exits for Mirra Andreeva, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula? Even Elina Svitolina’s strong run, while anticipated, ended in a straight-sets dismantling by Osaka—a twist few predicted.
Yesterday’s tournament favorite may be gone by today. That’s the magic of women’s tennis: a constant blend of rising talents, seasoned veterans, and players with stories etched into the sport’s history. Remember Anastasija Sevastova’s run this Montreal 2025?
Predictions Meant to Be Broken
Conventional wisdom says that experience—Rybakina and Osaka—will carry the day against Mboko and Tauson. But in the WTA, that’s exactly when the script flips. Both youngsters might end on top.
Every WTA tournament is a Pandora’s box—you never know what surprises will be unleashed. And that’s exactly how women’s tennis should be. That’s why we love it.
So, bring on these Montreal WTA semifinals! We cannot wait.