Victoria Mboko won the first WTA 1000 title of her career as she upset four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the final of the Canadian Open in Montreal on Thursday, Afrosport reports.
The 18-year-old Canadian of DR Congo heritage, was playing in her first WTA final and had beaten Grand Slam champions, Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina on the way.
Mboko was broken twice in the first set which allowed Osaka, who changed her coaching crew heading to Montreal, win the set 6-2.
The second set was very nervy as it saw five consecutive breaks of serve. Mboko however had the advantage as she broke Osaka for the fourth time for a 5-2 lead, and even though she was broken back, she took the set 6-4.
The third and final set started in almost similar fashion with three consecutive breaks of serve, Mboko again leading as she broke Osaka twice and again in the fifth and seventh game for a comeback 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory in a time of two hours, five minutes.
Reacting after her triumph, Mboko said: “It feels unbelievable right now. Words cannot really describe how the day went
“I think when I had that winning moment and seeing so many people standing up and cheering for me, it was kind of a surreal experience.
“I would never have thought that something like this would have come so suddenly.
“I think it just proves that your dreams are closer than you think they are.”
First title feels sweeter at home 💚#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/6MpHB6JOWc
— wta (@WTA) August 8, 2025
Mboko’s triumph in Montreal saw her become the third Canadian to win a WTA 1000 title. She is also the second youngest player to beat four Grand Slam champions in a singles event after Serena Williams beat Conchita Martinez, Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis en route winning her first major at the 1999 US Open.
Mboko started the year ranked 333rd and entered Montreal with a wildcard ranked 85th, making her the lowest ranked WTA 1000 winner.
She is however expected to jump up to 24th in next week’s WTA rankings, meaning she will be seeded for the final Grand Slam of the year at the US Open in Flushing Meadows.
