In a stunning upset at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, top-seeded Coco Gauff, the world No. 2 and reigning French Open champion, saw her title aspirations crumble in a swift 6-1, 6-4 defeat to 18-year-old Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko. The 62-minute match, played on August 2, 2025, at IGA Stadium’s Centre Court, marked a career-defining moment for Mboko, who became the first Canadian to defeat a No. 1 seed at the WTA 1000 event and the youngest to reach the quarterfinals since 1988. For Gauff, the loss exposed persistent vulnerabilities, particularly with her serve, as she struggled to find her rhythm against the fearless teenager.
Gauff’s Montreal campaign had been a battle from the start. Her earlier matches against Danielle Collins and Veronika Kudermetova were grueling three-set affairs, marred by a staggering 37 double faults combined. Against Collins, she survived a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2) epic despite 23 double faults, and her 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Kudermetova added 14 more. The Mboko match saw a slight improvement with six double faults, but her 50% first-serve percentage and 24 unforced errors left her defenseless against the Canadian’s aggressive play. “She played a great match, that’s basically it,” Gauff said post-match, acknowledging Mboko’s dominance. “She was playing very well, I made a couple of unforced errors, but I knew today would be a tough match. Unfortunately, it didn’t go well for me.”
Mboko, ranked No. 85 and soaring from No. 333 at the year’s start, seized the moment with poise beyond her years. Backed by a raucous home crowd chanting “Olé, Olé, Olé,” she broke Gauff early to lead 2-0 in the first set, exploiting the American’s shaky forehand and errant serves. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’m really happy to win today. It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” The first set was a 25-minute rout, with Mboko securing three breaks for a 6-1 scoreline. In the second set, Gauff fought to level at 3-3, but Mboko’s resilience shone as she saved four break points in a critical seventh game, holding serve with the crowd’s support. Serving to stay in the match at 5-4, Gauff faltered, double-faulting to hand Mboko a match point, which the Canadian converted when Gauff’s backhand found the net.
Mboko’s victory, her first against a top-10 player, guarantees a career-high ranking of No. 55 and a spot in her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal, where she’ll face either Lin Zhu or Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Her 2025 season has been a breakout, with a 48-8 record across all competitions, five ITF titles, and third-round and second-round runs at the French Open and Wimbledon, respectively. “She’s definitely playing like one of the top players in the world right now,” Gauff had predicted before the match. “Her ranking will definitely match that soon.” Mboko’s coach, former Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat, echoed this confidence, stating, “She is at the level of the best. If she’s not hurt, if she works well, she can beat anyone.”
Gauff’s struggles in Montreal highlight a troubling trend. Her 43 double faults across three matches add to a tour-leading 312 for the season, raising questions about her serve as she prepares for the US Open. Despite her resilience in earlier rounds, her inability to adjust against Mboko’s power, as one fan noted—“Coco has zero answers”—underscored tactical shortcomings. The loss drops her to 2-3 since her French Open triumph, following early exits in Berlin and Wimbledon. As Mboko basks in her historic win, Gauff faces a critical juncture, needing to refine her serve and regain her edge to defend her 2023 US Open title. Meanwhile, the tennis world celebrates Mboko’s meteoric rise, a testament to the sport’s unpredictable and thrilling future.
Leave a Reply