In a dramatic upset at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, 18-year-old Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko sent shockwaves through the tennis world by defeating world No. 2 Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 in just 62 minutes, securing her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal berth. The August 2 clash at IGA Stadium showcased Mboko’s fearless play, as she capitalized on Gauff’s error-prone performance to become the youngest Canadian to reach the tournament’s last eight since 1987. Post-match, Gauff addressed the growing hype around Mboko, firmly rejecting comparisons between the two and calling them unfair to the rising star. “She’s a completely different player, completely different person,” Gauff said in her press conference. “I’ve never been one to compare myself to others, whether it be like people comparing me to Serena or Venus, and I don’t think it’s fair to put that on her as well.”
Gauff, the reigning French Open champion, has faced a rocky patch since her Paris triumph in June 2025. Early exits at the Berlin Open and Wimbledon, followed by a grueling Montreal campaign marked by 43 double faults across three matches, exposed her struggle to regain consistency on hard courts. Her fourth-round loss to Mboko, ranked No. 85, was particularly stark: Gauff committed 24 unforced errors and six double faults, winning just 12 of 27 second-serve points. “I haven’t played the best this tournament, so I knew that it would be tough,” she admitted, reflecting on her performance. “I just felt like I could do better today, but I also knew that if I took my foot off the gas a little bit, that she would take advantage of those moments, and she did.” Gauff’s decision to skip the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., to focus on training may have backfired, as she later mused, “Maybe it was better to get more matches under my belt.”
Mboko, a Toronto native born in Charlotte, North Carolina, delivered a masterclass in poise, saving all five break points against her and converting four of five on Gauff’s serve. Her powerful groundstrokes and blistering serve—winning 79.3% of first-serve points—overwhelmed the American, who struggled to find rhythm. “Coming into this match, I was so locked in,” Mboko said, crediting the raucous Montreal crowd for fueling her performance. “I tried to keep my composure as much as I could playing in front of so many people. A very special experience for me.” The victory, her biggest to date, marked a rematch from their May 2025 Italian Open clash, where Mboko took the first set but fell 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. “I had flashbacks to when I played her in Rome,” Mboko noted, determined to match Gauff’s intensity this time. “I wanted to step my game up a little bit more and make sure I matched whatever she was producing.”
The tennis world’s rush to compare Mboko to Gauff, who burst onto the scene at 15 by defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon 2019, has stirred controversy. Some fans criticized the narrative as racially charged, given both players’ shared background, prompting heated online debates. Gauff, however, focused on Mboko’s unique strengths. “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,” she said, praising the Canadian’s composure and support system. “I think she has a great support system around her, and I think that’s important when you’re young and on tour.” Gauff expressed hope for future battles, adding, “Hopefully we have many more battles, and I look forward to playing her again in the future.”
Mboko’s 2025 season has been a breakout, with a 50-9 record across all competitions, including five ITF titles and a climb from No. 333 to No. 53 in the live WTA rankings. Her Grand Slam debut at the French Open saw her reach the third round, and she advanced to Wimbledon’s second round after upsetting Magdalena Frech. Coached by former Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat, Mboko’s relentless drive was evident as she dispatched higher-ranked players like Sofia Kenin and Marie Bouzkova en route to facing Gauff. “Your support was incredible,” she told the Montreal crowd in French amid “Olé, Olé, Olé!” chants. “I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” As Mboko prepares to face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the quarterfinals, Gauff heads to Cincinnati and the US Open, aiming to rediscover her rhythm and silence doubters, while Mboko’s star continues to rise on her own terms.
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