Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko completed a stunning Cinderella run at the National Bank Open in Montreal, defeating former world No 1 Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to win her first WTA Tour title. The 18-year-old wildcard, ranked 85th, toppled four grand slam champions en route to the trophy, including Osaka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Sofia Kenin.
Mboko's victory made her just the third teenager in the open era to beat four major champions at a single WTA event, and the youngest since Serena Williams won the 1999 US Open. The sold-out crowd in Montreal erupted in cheers, interrupting the men's final being played concurrently in Toronto.
Mboko started the year outside the top 300 and won her first 20 matches of the season in straight sets, collecting five ITF titles. Her coach, Nathalie Tauziat, praised her ability to manage stress and compete under pressure. Mboko saved a match point in the semi-finals against Rybakina and came from behind in three matches during the tournament.
Mboko's parents fled the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1999 and settled in Toronto, where she grew up. She recalled chasing autographs at the National Bank Open as a child and now holds the trophy herself. After the win, she said, 'I think my biggest takeaway is the sky’s the limit.'
