In one of the most spectacular runs of the year, Canadian wild-card Victoria Mboko claimed her first WTA title at the Omnium Banque Nationale in Montreal on August 7th, marking a breakthrough moment for the young talent.
It was really a fairy-tale finish at the WTA 1000 event in Montreal, when the 18-year-old Mboko defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the final on Thursday night. The victory marks a historic moment for Canadian tennis, as Mboko becomes only the third Canadian woman in the Open Era to win the prestigious WTA 1000 event, joining Faye Urban (1969) and Bianca Andreescu (2019).
Remarkable title run
Mboko’s journey to the title was nothing short of remarkable. Entering the tournament ranked No. 85, the Toronto native battled through a wrist injury sustained during her semifinal win over Elena Rybakina, where she saved a match point in a 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) thriller. Despite needing an MRI and X-ray earlier that day to confirm no serious damage, Mboko showed incredible resilience, shaking off a shaky first set against Osaka to dominate the final two sets. The match featured 13 service breaks in 25 games, with Mboko converting eight of nine break-point opportunities, and she looked strong under pressure
The final began with Osaka, ranked No. 49 and seeking her first title since the 2021 Australian Open, taking control. The Japanese star broke Mboko early and cruised through the first set without facing a break point, capitalizing on the Canadian’s 22 unforced errors. However, Mboko flipped the script in the second set, breaking Osaka to start and igniting a run of five consecutive games to the returner. Despite three double faults while serving for the set, Mboko’s depth and defensive skills kept her in the match, leveling the score. In the decider, her composure shone through, saving four break points in a critical 18-point game and sealing the match with a forehand dropshot winner.
See below, “shot of the day” of the final:
HOW DID MBOKO GET THAT ??
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 8, 2025
She shows off unbelievable court coverage for the @BetMGM shot of the day!#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/QjtEX6DQ6S
Defeated four Grand Slam champions
Mboko’s path to the final was a gauntlet of Grand Slam champions. She ousted Sofia Kenin, world No. 2 Coco Gauff and Rybakina en route to the final, becoming the first Canadian to defeat four major winners in a single WTA event in the Open Era. Her 6-1, 6-4 demolition of Gauff in the fourth round was a statement of her fearless ball-striking. With a 53-9 record in 2025, including 27-8 against higher-ranked opponents, Mboko’s breakthrough has propelled her from outside the top 300 at the start of the year to No. 24 in the world rankings. She also cashed in $752,275 in prize money, more than doubling her career earnings.
“It’s been an incredible week here in Montreal,” Mboko told the IGA Stadium crowd, who were so loud the umpire repeatedly called for quiet. “I want to thank every single one of you who came to support me throughout this whole week. You guys were incredible, and I couldn’t be more grateful.” The emotional victory saw Mboko drop to her knees as Osaka’s final shot hit the net, before running to hug her family and coaches.
For Osaka, the final marked her best WTA 1000 performance since reaching the Miami final in 2022.
Mboko’s win is a testament to her meteoric rise. A former ITF standout with a 22-match unbeaten streak earlier this year, she has now proven she belongs on the biggest stages. As the second-youngest player to defeat four Grand Slam champions in one tournament, Mboko’s future looks bright. She plans to skip the Cincinnati Open to rest her wrist ahead of the US Open, where she’ll undoubtedly be a player to watch.
Mboko’s new racquet
Previous to the Canadian Open, Mboko’s racquet was a Wilson Steam 99 in a 16/18 pattern, which she strung with Luxilon Original in the mains and natural gut in the crosses.
During the Canadian Open she has switched to what looks like a 100 sq inch, 16/20 string pattern racquet. The mold is not a Steam and looks more Blade-like. Could it be a P25 mold with a rare 16/20 pattern? She strings it with a full bed of Luxilon 4G. More about Mboko and her racquet.
Shelton first Masters 1000 title
On the men’s side in Canada, Ben Shelton finished a great run of form lately, by winning his biggest title of his career following a very tough battle against Karen Khachanov in the final, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3). Shelton will now go directly to another Masters 1000 event at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, where he’s the no 5 seed, his first match is on Sunday.
