In a breathtaking display of tenacity and talent, 18-year-old Canadian tennis sensation Victoria Mboko etched her name into the annals of the sport by clinching the 2025 Canadian Open title in Montreal. Her stunning 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the final capped a remarkable run, as she became only the second player in the Open Era—and the second youngest after Serena Williams—to defeat four Grand Slam champions in a single tournament. Mboko’s meteoric rise from world No. 333 at the start of the year to a top-25 ranking has sent shockwaves through the tennis world, marking her as a formidable force and drawing comparisons to the legendary Williams, whose 1999 US Open triumph set a similar benchmark.
Mboko’s journey to the Canadian Open crown was a masterclass in resilience. Entering as a wildcard ranked No. 85, she faced a gauntlet of tennis titans, toppling 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the second round (6-2, 6-3), world No. 2 and 2025 French Open winner Coco Gauff in the fourth round (6-1, 6-4), and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a grueling semi-final (1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4)). Her final against Osaka, a former world No. 1, was a testament to her fighting spirit. After dropping the first set in just 38 minutes, Mboko battled back, capitalizing on Osaka’s 13 double faults and breaking her serve eight times across the final two sets. “I was super happy to be playing in Montreal for the first time ever,” Mboko said post-match, her voice trembling with emotion. “I just remember feeling nervous, but really taking in the moment as much as I possibly could.”
The significance of Mboko’s achievement cannot be overstated. At 18 years and 11 months, she joins Serena Williams, who was 17 years and 11 months when she defeated Conchita Martinez, Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport, and Martina Hingis to win the 1999 US Open, as the only teenagers to conquer four major champions in one event. “I feel when I was a lot younger and watching tennis a lot on TV, I always saw Serena kind of winning everything,” Mboko reflected, citing Williams as a childhood idol whose powerful style inspired her own aggressive game. Her victory also places her among elite company as the third Canadian woman to win the Canadian Open in the Open Era, following Faye Urban in 1969 and Bianca Andreescu in 2019.
Mboko’s path to glory was not without challenges. A wrist injury sustained during her semi-final against Rybakina required a hospital visit for an MRI and X-ray on the morning of the final. Despite the pain and 13 double faults, she pushed through, driven by the electric support of a sold-out IGA Stadium. “There were some moments where it was aggravating me a lot,” she admitted, referring to her wrist. “But I feel like it was the final, and I just kept saying to myself, ‘You have one more to go,’ and I had the extra motivation from the crowd to keep pushing.” Her defining moment came in the third set, where she raced forward, slid, and lunged to return a shot, tumbling onto the court but securing a pivotal point that shifted momentum decisively.
The tennis world has taken notice. Former Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard called Mboko “the REAL deal,” while Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rennae Stubbs and former world No. 4 Brad Gilbert praised her composure and potential, with Gilbert suggesting she deserves a nickname. “She’s very athletic,” Gauff said after their match, noting Mboko’s exceptional movement. “She’s a great ball striker, and she seems pretty positive out there on the court.” Mboko’s coach, Nathalie Tauziat, a former Wimbledon finalist, has been instrumental in her rise, instilling calm under pressure. “I think what is important for her is to see us not panic when something happens,” Tauziat said, expressing hope for Mboko’s US Open campaign.
Mboko’s triumph, which earned her $752,275 and a 60-spot rankings jump to No. 24, has secured her a seeded spot at the upcoming US Open, starting August 24, 2025. Her decision to skip the Cincinnati Open to nurse her wrist underscores her focus on long-term success. “I think my biggest takeaway is the sky’s the limit,” she told reporters, her eyes set on Flushing Meadows. With a game blending power, speed, and tactical variety, Mboko has announced herself as a fearless new force, carrying the hopes of Canadian tennis and echoing the legacy of her idol, Serena Williams, as she steps into the global spotlight.
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