In a match that will be remembered as a changing of the guard, 16-year-old Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko delivered the upset of the tournament by defeating reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina at the National Bank Open in Montreal.
The teenage sensation, ranked 399th in the world, showed remarkable composure to overcome the world No.4 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2 in a thrilling three-set encounter that lasted over two hours.
A Star Is Born
Mboko, who only turned professional last year, displayed a maturity beyond her years as she outmaneuvered one of the tour's most formidable opponents. The young Canadian saved three set points in the opening set before eventually succumbing in a tiebreak, only to storm back with fearless tennis in the subsequent sets.
Rybakina's Unexpected Struggle
Rybakina, fresh from her Wimbledon triumph, appeared unsettled throughout the match, committing 46 unforced errors. The Kazakh star later admitted to struggling with the humid conditions and her young opponent's relentless energy.
"She played unbelievable today," Rybakina conceded during her post-match press conference. "I knew it would be tough but she surprised me with her consistency."
Road to the Main Draw
Mboko's journey to this moment has been nothing short of extraordinary:
- Won three qualifying matches to reach the main draw
- Became the youngest Canadian to win a WTA main draw match since 2019
- Improved her ranking by over 200 places this season alone
The victory marks Mboko's first-ever win against a top-10 opponent and sets up an exciting second-round clash against another established star.
Canadian Tennis on the Rise
Mboko's breakthrough continues Canada's recent tradition of producing exceptional young talent. Tennis Canada's development program has now nurtured three teenage prospects ranked inside the WTA's top 150.
"This is just the beginning," an emotional Mboko told reporters after the match. "I've dreamed of moments like this since I first picked up a racket."
