Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko is making headlines with a stunning run at the Canadian Open, where she is set to become the youngest woman in a decade to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. The 18-year-old sensation now faces a rematch with Elena Rybakina, who defeated her just weeks ago in Washington. But this time, the stakes are higher—and Mboko has momentum on her side.
Mboko’s Breakthrough Journey
Mboko booked her place in the semi-finals after a commanding straight-sets victory over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the quarters. Currently ranked 85th, she has been on an impressive streak in 2025, compiling a 51–9 season record, including a remarkable 36–3 tally on hard courts. Her rise has been rapid, and this semi-final appearance in her home country marks her debut in the Canadian Open main draw.
With a third-round appearance at Roland Garros earlier this year and consistent form across multiple surfaces, Mboko has now climbed to 48th in the live WTA rankings. Just two matches away from securing her first WTA singles title, the young Canadian is stepping into elite territory—and doing it on home soil.
Rybakina Targets Another Final
Ninth-seeded Elena Rybakina, a Wimbledon champion and seasoned top-10 player, heads into the semi-final looking to claim her second title of the season, having already triumphed in Strasbourg. She advanced past Marta Kostyuk in the previous round, although the win came after her opponent retired early in the second set due to injury. Still, Rybakina improved her season record to 37–14 and is currently 10th in the live rankings.
While Rybakina has had a solid year overall, her semi-final performances have been less convincing. Out of five semi-final appearances this season, she has lost four, raising questions about her ability to close out tournaments when the pressure peaks.
Head-to-Head and What to Expect
These two players met recently at the DC Open, where Rybakina claimed victory. But since then, Mboko has been nearly flawless, riding a five-match winning streak heading into this clash. Notably, she hasn’t lost a single semi-final match across any level this year, demonstrating nerves of steel when it matters most.
Rybakina, while clearly the more experienced and higher-ranked player, carries the burden of her recent semifinal struggles. With the home crowd behind her and her confidence soaring, Mboko has every reason to believe she can pull off an upset.
Prediction
According to current odds, Rybakina is the favorite with a 64.15% implied chance of victory. Mboko, however, holds a respectable 35.85% chance, and momentum is certainly on her side.
Match Prediction: Victoria Mboko to win the match.