Montreal, August 6, 2025 — Canadian tennis fans witnessed history as Victoria Mboko, just 18 years old, delivered the performance of a lifetime to upset world No. 9 Elena Rybakina in the semifinals of the 2025 National Bank Open.
In a match full of momentum swings and emotional highs, Mboko fought back from a one-sided first set loss to defeat Rybakina 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4). She saved a match point in the third set and held her nerve in the final tiebreak, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
The Canadian teen, playing as a wildcard, showed incredible composure under pressure despite falling and hurting her wrist early in the match. Her fearless approach, smart shot selection, and refusal to quit proved too much for Rybakina, who struggled to maintain consistency late in the match.
This victory makes Mboko the first Canadian woman to reach the Montreal final at the National Bank Open. Even more impressively, she defeated three former Grand Slam champions—Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina—on her way to the final, an unprecedented feat for a Canadian woman in a single WTA tournament.
With each win, Mboko’s confidence has soared, and now she stands just one match away from claiming her maiden WTA title—right on home soil.
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