In a electrifying display of talent and tenacity, 18-year-old Canadian tennis sensation Victoria Mboko has etched her name into the history books at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal. On a vibrant Saturday night at IGA Stadium, the Toronto native delivered a breathtaking 6-1, 6-4 victory over world No. 2 and top seed Coco Gauff, securing her place in the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time. The 62-minute masterclass not only marked the biggest win of Mboko’s burgeoning career but also established her as the first Canadian woman to reach the semifinals of the Canadian Open in Montreal during the Open Era, a feat that has ignited excitement across the tennis world.
Mboko, ranked No. 85, entered the tournament as a wildcard, her ranking a far cry from the No. 333 she held just a year ago. Her meteoric rise in 2025, boasting a 50-9 record across all competitions, including 24-8 against higher-ranked opponents, has been nothing short of remarkable. In Montreal, she dispatched Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, former Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin, and Czech star Marie Bouzkova before facing Gauff, dropping just one set along the way. Against Bouzkova, Mboko staged a stunning comeback from a 1-6 deficit to win 6-3, 6-0, showcasing her resilience and ability to reset under pressure. “I feel like I had a really shaky start and I wanted to go to the bathroom to reset and take my time,” she reflected after that match. “I wanted to come into the next set with a different mentality, and I mean, it helped a little bit.”
The showdown with Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion, was billed as the tournament’s marquee match, pitting the local hope against a global superstar. Mboko, unfazed by the occasion, attacked Gauff’s forehand relentlessly, capitalizing on the American’s uncharacteristic struggles. Gauff, plagued by six double faults and 23 unforced errors, including a second serve that barely reached the net, couldn’t find her rhythm. Mboko, by contrast, was a picture of composure, saving all four break points she faced and committing just 11 unforced errors. “Coming into this match, I was so locked in,” Mboko said post-match. “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 electric atmosphere at IGA Stadium, fueled by a sellout crowd that included UFC legend Georges St-Pierre, propelled Mboko to new heights. “It’s super important for me; it’s been helping me so much,” she said of the home support. “The crowd—it’s been amazing. I never had so many people cheer for me too, so that’s a bonus of playing at home, you know.” Her aggressive play and mental fortitude shone through, particularly in the second set when Gauff mounted a brief comeback. At 3-3, Gauff had three break-point opportunities, but Mboko held firm, denying the American with precise serving and fearless groundstrokes. “I just wanted to stay solid,” Mboko explained. “And I wanted to be right there with her and take as many opportunities as I could. Yeah, at the end of the day, it really went into my favor.”
Gauff, gracious in defeat, acknowledged Mboko’s brilliance. “I knew she would come in with a lot of confidence,” Gauff said. “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. She’s playing high-level tennis. I think that’s what showed today. I think she was the better player.” The 21-year-old American, who had battled through two grueling three-set matches earlier in the tournament, admitted her serve—a persistent Achilles’ heel—let her down. “Maybe it was better to get more matches under my belt,” she mused, looking ahead to the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.
Mboko’s victory was historic on multiple fronts. At 18 years and 336 days, she became the fourth-youngest semifinalist at the Canadian Open since 2000 and the first Canadian to defeat a No. 1 seed at the event. She also joined an elite group as the second teenager to topple Gauff at the WTA level, following Iga Swiatek in 2021. Reflecting on their previous encounter at the Italian Open, where Gauff rallied from a set down to win, Mboko noted, “When I actually won the first set here, I kind of had a flashback into what was going on when I played her in Rome. So I was like, okay, you need to step it up a level, you need to stay in there with her, she’s such a fighter and I know that.”
As Mboko prepares for her semifinal clash, her breakthrough has drawn praise from tennis luminaries. Rennae Stubbs, former coach to Serena Williams, called Mboko “a lovely young woman” with “lots of talent,” predicting a tough battle against Gauff before the match. With her ranking set to soar into the top 50, Mboko remains focused on the journey ahead. “I’m just taking it one step at a time,” she said. “I want to keep improving and enjoying the experience. This is a big moment for me, and I’m really grateful for it.” For Canadian tennis fans, Mboko’s fearless performance signals the arrival of a new star, one poised to carry the nation’s hopes into the future.
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