Victoria Mboko, hailing from Toronto, made a stunning impression at the National Bank Open tennis tournament on Sunday, displaying her skills before a home crowd in Montreal. In her main draw debut on Canadian soil, Mboko defeated Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in straight sets, winning 7-5, 6-3 at the IGA Stadium's Centre Court on a scorching afternoon.
“Today was really fun,” said Mboko after the match. “It was a really fun experience playing in front of the Canadian crowd for the first time in Montreal. Playing on Centre Court made me a little bit nervous at the beginning, but as the match went on, I felt more confident.”
Following Mboko's successful match, fellow Canadian Bianca Andreescu took to the court in the evening session, continuing the momentum by defeating Czechia’s Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-4. The matchup featured two former Grand Slam champions, and Andreescu's win came with a scare as she suffered a left ankle injury while serving for the match.
“You guys are everything, honestly,” an emotional Andreescu expressed during her on-court interview. “Thank you so, so much. These moments are never easy. I’m just super happy that I was able to pull through, and it was thanks to you guys.” Andreescu did not speak to the media following the match due to her injury, but further updates are expected on Monday after additional medical evaluations.
In her match, Mboko showcased her powerful service game, delivering 15 aces that consistently exceeded speeds of 180 kilometers per hour. She also produced solid forehand winners, keeping the crowd energized throughout the match, which lasted over 90 minutes. “I kind of surprised myself a little bit in the match where my serving was really strong,” she noted. “I just wanted to ensure a solid first serve percentage throughout the match, and I didn’t expect to serve that well. It provided me with a lot of advantages and free points.”
Mboko also made an effort to connect with her fans, dedicating time to sign autographs for both children and adults outside the stadium and incorporating some French into her post-match interview. “I know many were just there to support me, regardless of the points, and I’m really grateful for that,” she said. “I believe it really helped me through the match.”
The match began with Mboko taking an early lead by breaking Birrell's serve in the opening game. However, Birrell quickly broke back in the next game. Both players held serve until the decisive 12th game of the first set when Mboko managed to break Birrell's serve to clinch the opener 7-5.
In the second set, Mboko received a boost after benefiting from a break due to Birrell’s double fault, putting her ahead 3-1. “I think that break made a significant difference because if she had held serve, it would’ve tied the score,” Mboko stated. She maintained her advantage, holding her serve three times to secure the victory in straight sets.
The 18-year-old Mboko, currently ranked No. 88 in the world, is one of seven Canadians who received a wild card into the WTA 1000 main draw. She has had an impressive ascent in the WTA rankings in 2025, starting the year ranked 350th, and now boasts a record of 46-8 this season across all competitions. This includes an astonishing stretch of 22 consecutive match wins, all in straight sets, at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Challenger tour level. Mboko also made her mark at the Grand Slam level, qualifying for both the French Open and Wimbledon this season, reaching the third and second rounds, respectively.
With her first-round win, Mboko is set to face American Sofia Kenin in the second round. Kenin, seeded 23rd, received an automatic bye into this next stage of the tournament. After their strong performances, Mboko and Andreescu are looking to make further advances in this prestigious event.
Earlier in the day, another Canadian, Marina Stakusic from Mississauga, faced Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian but lost 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in her first-round match. Stakusic reflected on her performance, stating, “I think I came out pretty strong and played well in the first set. She didn’t give me many free points and served really well.”
On Monday, four additional Canadian players will be competing in their opening-round matches, including Eugenie Bouchard, who is set to kick off the night session against Colombia’s Emiliana Arango. Bouchard recently announced her plans to retire from professional tennis following the conclusion of this tournament. Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Quebec, who recently captured the Citi Open title in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to play her first-round match against Australia’s Maya Joint on Tuesday.
