Victoria Mboko, the 18-year-old Canadian tennis sensation, showcased her champion spirit on Wednesday, advancing to the final of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers after a dramatic match. She triumphed over No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan with a scoreline of 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) in front of a packed crowd at IGA Stadium. This thrilling encounter, lasting two hours and 46 minutes, marked the longest match of Mboko's WTA career.
In an emotional post-match interview with Sportsnet’s Danielle Michaud, Mboko expressed her astonishment at reaching the final. “The words cannot even describe how I feel right now,” she said. “Nothing would have ever prepared me to be in the final. If you would have told me last year that I was going to be in the final here, I would have said you’re crazy.” Her win came after overcoming five higher-ranked opponents, propelling her into the top 50 of the WTA rankings.
The match did not start in Mboko's favor; Rybakina dominated the first set, winning it 6-1. However, Mboko's resilience shone through as she bounced back in the second set despite suffering a wrist injury early. After falling awkwardly, she received treatment but continued to focus fiercely on the game. "I was so locked in that at some point, the pain kind of went away," she commented.
Midway through the third set, Rybakina broke Mboko's serve to lead 3-2. However, Mboko responded strongly, fighting off a match point while trailing 4-5 and breaking Rybakina's serve to force a tiebreaker, igniting the crowd's support as they chanted her name. Despite another break from Rybakina following a double fault from Mboko, the Canadian quickly regained her strength, breaking back and pushing the match to a tiebreak where she ultimately clinched her second set win.
Mboko's performance was particularly noteworthy not only for her fighting spirit but also for her lethal backhand. She demonstrated remarkable fortitude, refusing to be intimidated by Rybakina, the reigning Wimbledon champion and current ace leader on the WTA Tour. Rybakina did not impose her serve as heavily as expected; however, it was Mboko's serve that struggled early on, as she failed to win her first service game until the second set.
After a shaky start, where she committed several double faults and unforced errors, Mboko elevated her game. Highlights included a spectacular rally that showcased her skills, which led to her winning points and revving up the home crowd. She was finally able to secure a break to win the second set, thrilling fans by hitting a decisive backhand past Rybakina.
Despite the earlier loss to Rybakina in Washington just two weeks ago, the young Canadian's determination to correct her mistakes shone through on this occasion. Her record now stands at an impressive 52-9 for the year, a remarkable feat considering she started the year ranked outside the top 300 and faced setbacks, including her first-round loss in a small tournament a year prior.
Mboko's success at the National Bank Open has made her one of the tournament's standout players. Fellow competitors, including No. 6 seed Madison Keys and Clara Tauson, have acknowledged her talent and potential. As she prepares to face either Naomi Osaka or Clara Tauson in the final, the tennis world will be watching closely, anticipating what this vibrant new talent will do next.
