In a stunning upset at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, 18-year-old Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko delivered a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over world No. 2 Coco Gauff in just 62 minutes, securing her place in the quarterfinals. The defeat marked a significant moment for Mboko, who became the youngest Canadian to reach this stage since Helen Kelesi in 1987, and only the second wildcard in the Open Era to topple the top seed at the event. For Gauff, the loss was a setback in her post-French Open campaign, prompting her to address comparisons drawn between her and the rising Canadian star in a post-match press conference. Her candid remarks highlighted her perspective on Mboko’s potential while firmly rejecting parallels to her own journey, underscoring the individuality of their paths in professional tennis.
Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion, entered the Canadian Open as the top seed, fresh off a rollercoaster season. After her Roland Garros triumph, she struggled with early exits in Berlin and Wimbledon, where she fell in the first round to Dayana Yastremska. In Montreal, she showed resilience, battling through three-set matches against Danielle Collins and Veronika Kudermetova, despite racking up 37 double faults across those encounters. However, against Mboko, Gauff’s game faltered, with 24 unforced errors and a mere 43% first-serve percentage. “I knew in Rome when I played her, it would be a tough match, and it was,” Gauff said, referencing their earlier meeting at the Italian Open in May, where she rallied from a set down to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. “I knew today it would be hard, and she’s playing high-level tennis. I think that’s what showed today. I think she was the better player.”
Mboko, ranked No. 85 entering the tournament, seized the moment in front of a raucous Montreal crowd chanting “Olé, Olé, Olé!” Her performance was a masterclass in composure, as she converted four of five break-point opportunities and saved all four break points against her serve. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French, her voice brimming with emotion. “I’m really happy to win today. It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Reflecting on her strategy, she added, “I was actually really thinking about it a lot during the match. I had flashbacks to when I played her in Rome a little bit. I just remember when she came out playing even better and stepped it up a bit better. I wanted to step my game up a little bit more and make sure I matched whatever she was producing.”
When asked if she saw similarities between herself and Mboko, given their shared status as young, dynamic players from the Americas, Gauff was quick to dismiss the comparison. “No, she’s a completely different player, completely different person,” the 21-year-old said. “I’ve never been one to compare myself to others, whether it be people comparing me to Serena or Venus, and I don’t think it’s fair to put that on her as well.” Gauff’s stance reflects her own experience with lofty expectations, having been likened to the Williams sisters since her breakout at Wimbledon in 2019, where she defeated Venus as a 15-year-old. Her rejection of the comparison underscores her belief in Mboko’s unique potential, free from the burden of external parallels.
Despite the loss, Gauff remained gracious, praising Mboko’s attributes and predicting a bright future. “She’s very athletic. She’s a great ball striker, and she seems pretty positive out there on the court, doesn’t get really too negative,” Gauff noted. “I think she has a great support system around her, and I think that’s important when you’re young and on tour. Hopefully we have many more battles, and I look forward to playing her again in the future.” Mboko’s rise has been meteoric, with five ITF titles in 2025 and a 46-9 win-loss record, propelling her from outside the top 300 to a projected No. 53 in the live WTA rankings. Her victory over Gauff, coupled with earlier wins against Sofia Kenin and Marie Bouzková, has marked her as a formidable talent.
Mboko’s performance resonated deeply with the Canadian tennis community. Former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard, who recently retired, praised her maturity: “I’m very impressed with how cool, calm and collected she was on the court. She looked much more mature than her 18 years of age.” Mboko herself credited the electric home crowd for fueling her performance. “When I was up 5-4, the crowd started cheering even louder, and everything got super noisy,” she said. “I used that as more fuel for myself and to pump myself up a little bit more.” Her ability to harness the energy of the Montreal fans, combined with her disciplined game plan, made the difference in a match that saw her dominate the first set in just 25 minutes.
For Gauff, the loss opens the door for world No. 3 Iga Swiatek to challenge for the No. 2 ranking in Cincinnati, where Gauff will look to rebound on home soil. “I felt like in practice I was playing well the last few weeks,” Gauff reflected. “I decided to take some time off and not play DC to actually focus on that, and maybe that wasn’t the right decision. But it’s the first tournament on the hard court season, so I’m hoping that in Cincy and in New York I can find that rhythm.” As Mboko prepares to face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the quarterfinals, her breakthrough in Montreal signals the arrival of a new Canadian star, while Gauff’s introspective response highlights her resilience and respect for her opponent’s burgeoning career.
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