Elena Rybakina, the No. 9 seed from Kazakhstan, secured her place in the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Montreal on August 4, 2025, but the victory came under somber circumstances. Her quarterfinal opponent, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, was forced to retire due to a wrist injury, with Rybakina leading 6-1, 2-1 after just 54 minutes of play at IGA Stadium. The abrupt end to a highly anticipated match left the tennis world wishing Kostyuk a speedy recovery, while Rybakina now sets her sights on a deep run in this WTA 1000 event, a critical stepping stone toward the US Open.
The match began with Rybakina showcasing the aggressive, precise tennis that has made her a former Wimbledon champion. From the outset, she dominated with clean ball-striking and punishing returns, particularly targeting Kostyuk’s second serve. “I’m really enjoying playing in the World Series, visiting new places and playing in front of new crowds!” Rybakina had said earlier in the tournament, and her performance reflected that enthusiasm. She broke Kostyuk early in the first set, racing to a 2-0 lead and capitalizing on two of her six break-point opportunities to claim the set 6-1 in a swift 30 minutes. Rybakina’s efficiency was striking, conceding only four points on her serve and maintaining relentless pressure.
Kostyuk, the No. 24 seed, entered the match with momentum, having battled through three consecutive three-set victories against Marketa Vondrousova, Daria Kasatkina, and McCartney Kessler. “I know I need to play well against every player, but especially against this young talent,” Rybakina had noted about Kostyuk, acknowledging their competitive history. The two had faced off four times previously, with Rybakina holding a 3-1 edge, including a win in the 2024 Stuttgart Open final. However, Kostyuk’s wrist injury became evident early, hampering her ability to compete. After the third game of the second set, with Rybakina leading 2-1, trainers wrapped Kostyuk’s forearm in medical tape during a medical timeout. Despite her fighting spirit, which had endeared her to the Montreal crowd, Kostyuk tearfully shook hands with Rybakina at the 54-minute mark, unable to continue. “Never the ending we want to see 😓 Wishing Kostyuk a speedy recovery ❤️🩹,” echoed the sentiment shared across social media, capturing the crowd’s admiration for her resilience.
Rybakina’s path to the semifinals marks her second WTA 1000 semifinal of the 2025 season and her 10th career appearance at this level. Her performance in Montreal, where she also reached the semifinals in 2023, underscores her resurgence after missing the 2024 event due to physical setbacks. With 380 ranking points already secured, Rybakina is poised to climb from No. 13 to No. 11 in the WTA rankings, potentially overtaking Paula Badosa. A final appearance could see her return to the top 10, displacing Emma Navarro, a significant milestone after four months outside the elite tier. “I’m very privileged to be here playing, and hopefully I can pick up the title this weekend,” Rybakina said, her focus now shifting to the next challenge.
In the semifinals, Rybakina will face Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, who stunned the tennis world with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Mboko, an 18-year-old wildcard from Toronto, has surged from outside the top 300 to No. 85 in a breakout year, highlighted by a 22-match win streak on the ITF circuit and a third-round appearance at the French Open. Her upset of top-seeded Coco Gauff in just 62 minutes earlier in the tournament has marked her as Canada’s next big hope, drawing comparisons to Bianca Andreescu’s 2019 title run. “I’m absolutely stoked to get the win,” Mboko said, her confidence soaring as she prepares to face Rybakina in front of a passionate home crowd.
The National Bank Open, a WTA 1000 event running through August 7, has been a tournament of surprises, with the top five seeds eliminated before the quarterfinals. Rybakina, one of the highest seeds remaining, now carries the weight of expectation as she aims for her first Montreal title. Her journey, however, is tempered by the bittersweet nature of her latest victory. As Kostyuk begins her recovery, Rybakina’s clinical performance and Mboko’s meteoric rise set the stage for a thrilling semifinal clash, with the winner eyeing a coveted spot in the final and valuable momentum heading into the US Open.
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