Teenager superstar Victoria Mboko defeated Naomi Osaka to win the Canadian Open title in Montreal, making a strong impression in her debut season on the WTA Tour. Her impressive run not only earned her a title, but she also equaled an incredible milestone by Serena Williams.
By beating four major winners on her way to the title, Mboko became the second youngest player ever to do so. Serena Williams beat Conchita Martinez, Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport, and Martina Hingis to win the 1999 US Open.
Mboko started in 2025 ranked 333 in the world. Just seven months later, she is set to enter the WTA top 25 following her win in front of her home crowd. Her victory was even celebrated in Toronto, amid Ben Shelton and Karen Khachanov’s match.
Serena Williams defeated four Grand Slam champions on route to the US Open (Getty Images)
In the final against Osaka, Mboko lost the first set 6-2 in 38 minutes. But she bounced back, winning the second set 6-4 after opening a 5-2 lead. In the third set, Mboko took control and won five games in a row to secure her first WTA Tour-level title.
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Mboko makes Canadian tennis history
Mboko is also only the third Canadian to win their home tournament during the Open Era, following Faye Urban in 1969 and Bianca Andreescu in 2019. “When I had that winning moment and seeing so many people standing up and cheering for me, it was kind of a surreal experience,” she said after the match.
“I would have never thought something like this would have come so suddenly. It just proves that your dreams are closer than they [seem]. It’s been an incredible week here. Montreal, je vous aime!” she added.
Mboko’s Canadian Open victory is a major milestone in her career, and she now aims to build on this momentum as she climbs the rankings. Her improved position will also earn her a seeded spot at the upcoming US Open.
