Victoria Mboko Crowned Champion of the Canadian Masters 1000
In a memorable performance, the 18-year-old Canadian tennis player Victoria Mboko won the title of the Canadian Masters 1000. Mboko starred in a dream tournament, culminating in a victory in the final against the Japanese Naomi Osaka.
Before this tournament, Mboko was relatively unknown on the circuit. However, her path to the championship included victories over four Grand Slam winners: Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Osaka herself.
Following this triumph, Mboko will significantly ascend in the world ranking, climbing approximately 60 positions to be among the top 25 tennis players in the world. The final match, which lasted just over two hours, saw Mboko, who previously held the number 85 position, overcome Osaka, currently in the 49th position.
Osaka, for her part, will also experience an improvement in her ranking, returning to the Top 25, her best position since 2022. The Japanese tennis player, who hadn’t won a title since the Australian Open in 2021, played her second final of the year in Montreal, after the one in Auckland.
A Complicated First Set and an Epic Comeback
The start of the match was not easy for Mboko, who had a complicated first set, committing numerous unforced errors. Osaka took advantage of the situation, taking an initial lead that led her to win the first set with a score of 6-1.However, Mboko showed resilience, replicating the comeback she had achieved in the semifinals against Rybakina. In the second set, Mboko changed the course of the match, breaking Osaka’s first games and showing great power and speed.
Despite some errors, Mboko managed to secure the second set with a score of 6-4, tying the match.
Mboko’s Domain and Triumphant Closure
In the third set, Mboko continued her dominance, while Osaka seemed to lose confidence. The Canadian tennis player won the next five games, including three service breaks, securing the set and the match with impressive shots.Upon concluding the match, Mboko expressed her emotion and gratitude to Osaka, whom she had always admired.
In addition to the thousand points that boost her in the WTA ranking, Mboko received a prize of $752,275 for her victory in Canada.
