MONTREAL/WASHINGTON, August 7, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Victoria Mboko‘s reaction after she beat Elena Rybakina to reach the WTA 1000 Omnium Banque Nationale Presente par Rogers final in Montreal was one of joy and pure happiness. Yes, sometimes, dreams do come true.
On Wednesday evening, Jarry Park’s IGA Stadium came alive as the 18-year-old Canadian sensation defeated the No. 9 seed Rybakina of Kazakhstan, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4), in two hours and 46 minutes.
From down 3-5 in the final set, Mboko saved a match point and went on to dominate Rybakina in the final-set tie-break after breaking her serve twice. Now, she’s through to her first WTA Tour final after winning six straight matches while dropping just two sets.
ALLEZ VICKY
Following an EPIC three setter, Victoria Mboko rallies back to defeat Rybakina 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) to reach her first WTA final!#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/1iP9zIHzNw
— wta (@WTA) August 7, 2025
En route, Mboko has become the first Canadian player in the Open Era to beat three Grand Slam champions – Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff and Rybakina – to reach her first WTA 1000 final. She’s the fourth player this season to achieve the feat after Madison Keys (Australian Open), Mirra Andreeva (Dubai and Indian Wells) and Alexandra Eala (Miami).
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina to Congolese parents and reared in Toronto, Mboko began the season ranked outside the Top 300. Now, with a win-loss record to 52-9 in all competitions (including 12-5 on the WTA Tour), she’s ranked No. 85 and is just the fourth Canadian finalist at the Canadian Open in the Open Era after Faye Urban (1968 and 1969), Vicky Berner (1969) and Bianca Andreescu (2019) – and the youngest. Mboko will wrap up her magical week in Montreal ranked no worse than a new career-high ranking No. 34. If she wins the Montreal title, she will rise to a new career-high ranking of No. 25 and could become the new Canadian No. 1 ahead of Leylah Fernandez.
She’s taking names #OBN25 pic.twitter.com/ttuMimD5g7
— wta (@WTA) August 7, 2025
After securing match point, Mboko dropped to the court and covered her face – not believing what had just happened. Soon, she got up and beamed a smile that spoke volumes as she walked to the net to receive congratulations from Rybakina. Then, she went over and hugged her coach, Nathalie Tauziat.
“Incredible match, thank you to everyone for supporting me,” Mboko said in French as the crowd wildly applauded her. “It was really difficult, but anything can happen.”
What a moment.
Canada’s Victoria Mboko stuns Elena Rybakina to reach the final – and brings the house down in front of a packed Montreal crowd
Victoria Mboko crée la surprise sous les acclamations d’un Stade IGA plein à craquer #NBO25 pic.twitter.com/xOVpF5QbtF
— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 7, 2025
Mboko overcame 11 double faults and battled through a right wrist injury after stumbling awkwardly early in the third set.
In Thursday’s title match, Mboko will face four-time major champion Naomi Osaka of Japan, ranked 49th, who ended the run of No. 16 seed Clara Tauson of Denmark, 6-2, 7-6 (7), in one hour and 45 minutes in the other semifinal Wednesday evening. Osaka is seeking her eighth career WTA Tour title – and first since winning the 2021 Australian Open.
“Playing in front of the home crowd, obviously, has its advantages,” Mboko said. “You always have everyone pumping you up as much as they can. It really pulls me through in the tough moments where I’m maybe not as positive. Really blessed to have that kind of support.”
MBOKO MAGIC
Victoria Mboko refuses to be stopped and she showed us just that when she saved a match point and pulled off the unthinkable comeback
She’s through to her first WTA 1000 final, where she’ll face Naomi Osaka
Read more https://t.co/2M6BJ3xuaG pic.twitter.com/k5WDg4yNED
— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 7, 2025
By the numbers
With a win in Thursday evening’s final, Victoria Mboko would become the second-youngest player in the Open Era to defeat four Grand Slam champions in one tournament – older only than Serena Williams at the 1999 US Open.
“Quotable …”
“I would say my ability to kind of come back in the third set. I mean, I feel like after I had that fall, I wasn’t in the greatest spirits. Of course, she was playing really great tennis on top of that, but I’m happy that I kept my composure, and I was kind of patient in the right moments.
“Yeah, I just feel really happy that I was able to bounce back after being down.”
– Victoria Mboko of Canada, during her post-match news conference Wednesday evening, on what she was most proud of after defeating No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina to advance to her first WTA Tour final.
