Victoria Mboko – The 18-year-old who defeated Naomi Osaka

Eighteen-year-old Victoria Mboko has stunned the tennis world by winning her first WTA Tour title at the Canadian Open in Montreal, defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a dramatic 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback. The victory marks her as only the third Canadian in the Open Era to capture the title, joining Faye Urban (1969) and Bianca Andreescu (2019).

Mboko entered the tournament as a wild card, making her the third in history to reach the women’s final at this event—following Monica Seles in 1995 and Simona Halep in 2015. Before this run, she didn’t even have an official WTA profile photo. Starting the year ranked No. 333, she is now projected to soar to No. 34, a leap of 55 places since the tournament began.

Defeating Champions and Overcoming Adversity

Her path to the title was one of the most challenging in recent memory. Mboko defeated four Grand Slam winners—Osaka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Sofia Kenin—becoming the first Canadian to eliminate three major champions in a single WTA event in the Open Era.

Her semifinal against 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina was a true test of resilience. After losing the first set and facing a match point, Mboko battled through a wrist injury to secure a 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) victory. That performance not only booked her place in the final but also solidified her reputation for mental toughness under pressure.

This is only her second professional final; her first came earlier this year at the Parma Open, a WTA 125-level event, where she finished runner-up.

A Rapid Rise and Strong Support System

Born in North Carolina in 2006 to Congolese parents who emigrated in the late 1990s, Mboko grew up in Toronto as the youngest of four siblings—all tennis players. She began swinging a racket at age three, inspired by her brothers and sister. As a child, she attended the Canadian Open as a spectator, never imagining she would one day lift the trophy herself.

Her family plays a central role in her career, offering encouragement during tense moments on court. “Family brings us a sort of comfort that no one else can replicate,” she told the WTA earlier this year.

Known for her power and agility, Mboko’s composure is equally impressive. “I’ve been in situations where the score was tight, and I panicked a little,” she admitted, “but I’ve learned to focus on the next point, not the last.”

What’s Next for the Rising Star

Mboko’s win has drawn praise from fellow professionals, including 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, who told CNN she believes Mboko has the potential to become a Grand Slam champion and even reach world No. 1.

For now, the teenager is savoring the moment. “If you’d told me last year that I’d be in the final here, I would’ve said, ‘You’re crazy,’” she said with a smile. With her rapid ascent, powerful game, and unwavering mindset, Victoria Mboko may be on the verge of a breakthrough season that reshapes Canadian tennis history.