There’s a new name lighting up the women’s tennis circuit — and it belongs to 18-year-old Victoria Mboko.
The 18-year-old Canadian has powered into the final of the National Bank Open in Montreal, defeating top-seeded Coco Gauff and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina along the way.
Now, she faces Naomi Osaka in Sunday’s final — a blockbuster clash against a former world No 1 and four-time major winner.
Born in the U.S. to Congolese parents but raised in Ontario, Mboko represents Canada and has long been seen as one of the country’s most exciting young prospects.
She made her WTA debut at 15 and won her first ITF title in 2022, defending it the following year. This summer, she’s stepped up on the big stage.
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Her rise has been meteoric
With 33 wins to just three losses this season, Mboko is set to break into the WTA top 50 next week.
Her early-season form saw her notch a Miami main-draw win and push Paula Badosa to three sets.
At the French Open, she reached the third round, then stunned the 25th seed Magdalena Fręch at Wimbledon.
She’s now the first Canadian finalist in Montreal since Bianca Andreescu in 2019 — and the youngest semi-finalist at this level since Belinda Bencic in 2015.
Recently retired Canadian star Genie Bouchard called Mboko’s rise “incredible,” while Gauff praised her “athleticism, calmness and positive energy.”
Is she the next big thing in women’s tennis? If this week is anything to go by, the answer may already be clear.
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