Victoria Mboko Stuns Naomi Osaka to Win National Bank Open in Montreal

Eighteen-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko captured her first WTA title on Thursday night, defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the National Bank Open final.

Overcoming a wrist injury and 13 double faults, Mboko mounted a dramatic comeback to claim the WTA 1000 crown – becoming the first Canadian to win the tournament in Montreal and the third in the Open Era, joining Bianca Andreescu (2019) and Faye Urban (1969).

The Toronto phenom sealed the victory in heroic fashion, rallying from 40-15 down in the final game with a bold net charge and a forehand winner, prompting a thunderous roar from the packed IGA Stadium crowd.

Ranked outside the top 300 at the start of 2024, Mboko will rise to No. 25 in the world after a sensational run that included wins over former Grand Slam champions Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff (No. 2 seed), Elena Rybakina, and now Osaka – making her the first Canadian to defeat four such champions in a single WTA event.

Her semifinal win over Rybakina—a 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) marathon – featured a saved match point and showcased her resilience amid ongoing physical struggles.

Unseeded and unheralded just weeks ago, Mboko’s breakthrough follows a 22-match ITF winning streak and deep runs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Her performance in Montreal has electrified Canadian tennis.

“This is all about Vicky Mboko,” said tournament director Valerie Tetreault. “She’s showing us that anything is possible.”

Osaka, returning to form after a 15-month break for the birth of her daughter, was seeking her first title since the 2021 Australian Open.

Mboko now earns a performance bye into the Cincinnati Open and automatic entry into the U.S. Open main draw, with her star – and Canada’s tennis future – burning brighter than ever.