MONTREAL/WASHINGTON, August 8, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Thursday evening’s title match of the WTA 1000 Omnium Banque Nationale presente par Rogers had all the makings of a fairy tale final. A capacity crowd filled IGA Stadium in Montreal’s Jarry Park, eager to see Canadian teenage sensation Victoria Mboko go after her first WTA Tour crown at home. The 18-year-old phenom faced four-time major champion Naomi Osaka of Japan, ranked 49th, who has been enjoying a career resurgence this summer in preparation for this month’s US Open.
After a nervy start, filled with double faults and unforced errors, Mboko got her mojo working for her during the second set. By the conclusion of the two hour and four minute final, the deafening roar of “Allez Vicky” carried the 85th-ranked Mboko to her first WTA Tour title. She completed her incredible run in her home country by defeating a distraught Osaka, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, to become just the third Canadian woman to win the home tournament – and first since Bianca Andreescu in 2019 – as well as the third wild card to win a WTA 1000 crown, following Maria Sharapova in 2011 at Cincinnati and Andreescu in 2019 at Indian Wells.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina to Congolese parents, Mboko began her Montreal journey as a contender and ended it as a champion. Her first title must feel sweeter because it happened in her home country – and she captured the hearts and minds of all of Canada in the process.
She came in as a wildcard. She leaves as the champion
Victoria Mboko, Canada’s new tennis star, reigns in Montreal #NBO25 | @nationalbank pic.twitter.com/AacaXTqovu
— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 8, 2025
“It’s been an incredible week in Montreal. First, I want to thank the ball kids and the officials and all the volunteers who helped this week. I also want to thank Naomi for an incredible match,” Mboko said graciously during her trophy ceremony remarks. “I’ve always looked up to her when I was really little. It’s always great to play with such an amazing player like you.
“Lastly, I want to thank everyone who came to support me today … and throughout this whole week. You guys were incredible. I couldn’t be more grateful.”
By contrast, the 27-year-old former No. 1 Osaka kept her remarks brief without congratulating Mboko by name. “I don’t really want to take up too much time,” she said. “So, I’ll just say thank you to everyone. Thank you to my team, thank you to the ball kids, thank you to the organizers and all of the volunteers. I hope you guys had a good night.”
Later, during her post-match remarks, Osaka apologized for her faux pas. “This morning I was very grateful. I don’t know why my emotions flipped so quickly, but I’m really happy to have played the final,” she said. “I think Victoria played really well. I completely forgot to congratulate her on the court.”
The winning moment ✨
Victoria Mboko captures her first WTA title in Montreal, defeating Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/OveLB47YMZ
— wta (@WTA) August 8, 2025
After quickly falling behind 3-0 in the opening 16 minutes of the final, Mboko saved three break points during a spirited 10-point game and held serve, but Osaka refocused and maintained her break lead at 4-1. She went on to win the 38-minute set by taking advantage of 22 unforced errors by Mboko.
Soon, Mboko mounted a rally in the second set and broke Osaka for a 4-2 lead. Then, she held on to win the 43-minute set despite committing eight double faults.
Later, a turning point in the final set came after Mboko saved four break points to hold her serve for a 3-1 break lead. It happened during a dramatic six-deuce, 18-point marathon fourth game that gave the young Canadian the confidence she needed to succeed. She broke Osaka in the ensuring game for a commanding 4-1 lead. Next, Mboko confidently consolidated the break for an insurmountable 5-1 and broke Osaka for an eighth time to put away the victory. In all there were 13 service breaks in 25 games, but Mboko converted eight of nine break-point opportunities. She outpointed Osaka 92-86.
VICKY MBOKO MONTREAL CHAMPION ✨
Vicky Mboko completes an incredible run on homesoil to defeat Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the final and win her first WTA title!#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/NCu3iFbgk2
— wta (@WTA) August 8, 2025
Upon securing championship point, Mboko dropped to her knees and buried her face with both of her hands. When she stood up, she beamed a joyful smile as she accepted the plaudits of the fans and shook Osaka’s hand at the net. Then, Mboko shared congratulatory hugs with her family and friends as well as her coach, Nathalie Tauziat. It was a happy ending to a happy and memorable night for the new Queen Victoria, who became the first player to win her maiden tour-level title at a WTA 1000 event since the introduction of the format in 2009.
In good company
Victoria Mboko becomes the second-youngest player in the Open Era to defeat four Grand Slam
champions in a single tournament, older only than Serena Williams at the US Open 1999.#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/60jJ0oPx1p— wta (@WTA) August 8, 2025
En route to winning the WTA 1000 title, Mboko’s fortnight of success included four victories over Grand Slam champions: Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Osaka. Mboko became the second-youngest player to accomplish the feat in the Open Era behind Serena Williams in 1999.
Come Monday, Mboko will be the new World No. 25 when the new PIF WTA Rankings are updated. Not bad for a youngster who began the year ranked outside of the Top 300 at No. 333.
“I don’t want to put so much pressure on myself just because of something that happened this week, because life goes on,” Mboko said during her champion’s news conference. “There’s always another tournament, whether win or lose. I’m just happy to live the moment.”
Gauff and Kessler win first doubles title together
Americans Coco Gauff and McCartney Kessler kept World No. 1 Taylor Townsend of the United States and World No. 12 Zhang Shuai of China from completing a Washington-Montreal championship double by winning the WTA 1000 doubles title in a match tie-break Wednesday afternoon.
Gauff and Kessler, who were partnering for the first time, defeated Townsend and Zhang, 6-4, 1-6, 13-11, in one hour and 14 minutes on IGA Stadium. They completed the tournament with a 5-0 win-loss record.
CoCart’s winning moment @CocoGauff | #OBN25 pic.twitter.com/kjEGK8vmIS
— wta (@WTA) August 6, 2025
Although Townsend and Zhang scored nine more points than their opponents – 62-53 – Gauff and Kessler prevailed on their fifth championship point during the match tie-break.
Gauff and Kessler won four of their five matches in Montreal via match tie-breaks. It was Gauff’s first WTA Tour doubles trophy in more than a year, since winning the 2024 French Open crown with Katerina Siniakova, while it was Kessler’s first WTA Tour doubles crown.
DOUBLE THE GREATNESS @CocoGauff and McCartney Kessler defeat Townsend/Zhang 6-4, 1-6, 13-11 to be crowned champions in Montreal!#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/5YFEzAO1hk
— wta (@WTA) August 6, 2025
By the numbers
Victoria Mboko is the third wild card to reach the final at the Canadian Open in the Open Era after Monica Seles (1995) and Simona Halep (2015).
“Quotable …”
“I think when I had that winning moment and seeing so many people standing up and cheering for me, it was kind of a surreal experience. I would have never thought something like this would have came so suddenly.
“I’m super happy for that, and I think it just proves that your dreams are closer than they are.”
– Victoria Mboko, 18, during her champion’s news conference, after winning her first WTA Tour title and first WTA 1000 crown.
