Ben Shelton and Victoria Mboko Celebrate Canadian Open Victories with Single-Word Instagram Posts
In a whirlwind of triumphs at the 2025 National Bank Open, Ben Shelton and Victoria Mboko emerged as champions, each claiming their first Masters 1000 titles in Toronto and Montreal, respectively. The 22-year-old American and the 18-year-old Canadian wildcard captivated the tennis world with their stellar performances, and their celebrations were as bold as their victories. Taking to Instagram, both posted single-word captions that captured the essence of their monumental achievements: Shelton with “champ” and Mboko with “What,” sparking a wave of reactions from fans and peers alike.
Shelton’s path to the Toronto title was a testament to his resilience. Facing Karen Khachanov in a gripping final, he battled through a first-set tiebreak loss to win 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3), becoming the youngest American to claim an ATP Masters 1000 title since Andy Roddick in 2004. His journey included upset victories over top-10 players Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur, showcasing a refined game bolstered by his father and coach, Bryan Shelton. “Karen was bullying me around the court,” Shelton admitted, crediting a tactical shift to move up the court for flipping the momentum. “It’s been a long week. I was clutch, I was resilient, a lot of qualities that I like to see in myself.” His 16 aces and ability to save three break points at 0-40 in the second set underscored his growth, propelling him to a career-high world No. 6 ranking.
Mboko’s Montreal run was nothing short of a fairy tale. Ranked No. 85 entering the tournament, the teenager stunned four Grand Slam champions—Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka in the final (2-6, 6-4, 6-1)—to claim her first WTA 1000 title. At 18 years and 11 months, she became the second-youngest player to defeat four major winners in a single event, trailing only Serena Williams’ 1999 US Open feat. Despite a wrist injury and 13 double faults, Mboko’s eight-of-nine break point conversions against Osaka sealed her victory. “It’s been an incredible week here in Montreal,” she told the crowd, adding, “Montreal, je vous aime!” Her ranking soared to No. 24, marking her as Canada’s top player and the third Canadian woman to win the event in the Open Era, following Bianca Andreescu (2019) and Faye Urban (1969).
The champions’ victories intersected in a memorable moment during Shelton’s final. As Khachanov prepared to serve in the first set, the Toronto crowd erupted, halting play. Shelton, bewildered, asked umpire Fergus Murphy, “What’s going on?” The response: “I guess the Canadian player won in Montreal.” Mboko’s triumph, 330 miles away, had sent shockwaves across Canada. Shelton later shared his amusement on Instagram Stories, writing, “Congrats on the title Vicky Mboko. I had no idea what was going on at the time 😂 but Toronto went nuts for you 🙏🏽.” Replying to Mboko’s “What” post, he added a goat emoji, a nod to her potential as a future great.
Mboko’s post-match reflections revealed her disbelief. “I would have never thought that I would have made it to the final, let alone win the tournament,” she said. “I have so many emotions going through my head, I can’t even express it.” Her journey, marked by resilience against higher-ranked players like Gauff (6-1, 6-4) and Rybakina (1-6, 7-5, 7-6[4]), showcased her blend of power and poise. “She’s very athletic,” Gauff praised. “She’s a great ball striker, and she seems pretty positive out there.” Mboko’s $752,275 prize money more than doubled her career earnings, setting her up for a seeded spot at the US Open.
Shelton’s $1,124,380 prize and Mboko’s historic run underscored their breakout moments. His Instagram post, “champ,” reflected his confidence, while Mboko’s “What” captured her shock at her own achievement. Their shared day of glory, linked by a crowd’s roar, highlighted the emergence of two young stars. As they head to Cincinnati—Shelton facing Camilo Ugo Carabelli or Kei Nishikori, Mboko eyeing a deep run—the tennis world buzzes with anticipation. Shelton’s complete game and Mboko’s fearless style signal a new era, with both poised to challenge at Flushing Meadows.
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