Victoria Mboko’s remarkable journey at the National Bank Open reached new heights on Saturday as she delivered a stunning performance against top-seeded Coco Gauff. The 18-year-old Canadian triumphed with a score of 6-1, 6-4, advancing to the quarterfinals of the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament held at IGA Stadium in Montreal. The match lasted just 62 minutes, showcasing Mboko's impressive skills and composure on the court.
This victory marks a significant milestone in Mboko’s career, as she has made a phenomenal leap from a ranking of No. 333 to No. 85 in the world within the year. The young talent displayed remarkable resilience, saving all four breakpoints against the world No. 2 Gauff, who struggled throughout the match, tallying 22 unforced errors.
As the last Canadian remaining in the singles draw, Mboko's performance has shifted the focus of Canadian tennis fans from previously supporting Eugenie Bouchard to this rising star. The young player connected well with the crowd, expressing her gratitude after the match: “Your support was incredible,” she stated in French, amidst chants of “Olé, Olé, Olé!” from the excited audience.
Mboko showcased her signature powerful groundstrokes and formidable serving abilities right from the beginning of the match. Gauff, on the other hand, struggled with consistency, committing a significant number of unforced errors, including double faults that set the tone for an early break in favor of Mboko. The first set ended quickly as Mboko secured breaks in the fifth and seventh games, leading to a decisive 6-1 finish.
In the second set, Gauff made attempts to rally, gaining three breakpoint chances at a pivotal moment with the match tied 3-3, but each time succumbed to unforced errors. As the match progressed, Gauff found herself at 4-5, where she double-faulted twice, ultimately giving Mboko two match points. The pressure mounted and Gauff was unable to recover from her earlier mistakes, allowing Mboko to close out the match.
Significantly, this victory makes Mboko the second youngest Canadian to reach a WTA 1000 quarterfinal since 1990, surpassing any achievements by players other than Bianca Andreescu. Furthermore, she becomes the first Canadian teenager to defeat Gauff, highlighting her remarkable trajectory this season.
Mboko's ascent in professional tennis has been nothing short of extraordinary, with a current season record of 50-9, including a commendable 24-8 against higher-ranked opponents. Earlier in the tournament, she overcame 79th-ranked Kimberly Birrell, upset 23rd seed and former Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin, and halted Marie Bouzkova's seven-match winning streak before her triumph over Gauff. This quarterfinal marks her first advancement in a 1000-level tournament, building on previous experiences in Grand Slam main draws, including a third-round appearance at the French Open and a second-round finish at Wimbledon.
Apart from Mboko's stunning performance, Saturday's day session also witnessed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan advancing to the quarterfinals. Kostyuk, the 24th seed, overcame a first-set loss to defeat McCartney Kessler of the United States, while ninth-seeded Rybakina rallied from behind to win against Dayana Yastremska. They are set to face each other in the next round, promising more thrilling matches as the tournament progresses.
