Montreal, Aug 7 (AP) — Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko staged an impressive comeback to secure a spot in the National Bank Open final, defeating ninth-seeded Elena Rybakina with a score of 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) on a thrilling Wednesday night.
The victory saw the 18-year-old, Mboko, fall to the court in celebration as Elena Rybakina’s last shot went long, triggering cheers among fans holding “Allez Vicky” signs. Mboko demonstrated remarkable resilience by saving a match point in the third set and breaking Rybakina twice to lead into the tiebreaker.
“What an incredible match! Thanks to everyone for your support,” Mboko addressed her cheering fans in French. “Things were tough, but anything is possible.”
On Thursday night, Mboko will face off against Japanese star Naomi Osaka, who defeated the 16th-seeded Clara Tauson from Denmark with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (7) in the second semifinal.
Ranked 85th globally, Mboko is aiming for her first WTA Tour title and hopes to join the ranks of Faye Urban (1969) and Bianca Andreescu (2019) as the only Canadians to win their home event in the Open era.
“Playing at home definitely provides a significant advantage,” Mboko stated. “The support from the crowd pushes me through challenging moments when I might doubt myself. I’m truly blessed with this kind of encouragement.”
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina to Congolese parents, Mboko was raised in Toronto. She achieved notable victories, including an upset over top-seeded Coco Gauff with a 6-1, 6-4 win on Saturday, and another triumph against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 6-4, 6-2, on Monday. Wednesday's match was her longest at 2 hours and 46 minutes.
Rybakina, hailing from Kazakhstan and the 2022 Wimbledon champion, boasts nine WTA Tour career titles, with her latest on clay in Strasbourg this May. She had previously bested Mboko 6-3, 7-5 last month in Washington.
“I knew she was tough,” Rybakina admitted. “Her serves were powerful at crucial moments. The match was tight, a real battle, but ultimately it went her way.”
Despite 11 double-faults and grappling with a wrist injury from a fall early in the third set, Mboko persevered. Her world ranking will now rise to at least 34th, a significant jump from being outside the top 300 at the year's start.
Mboko shared that her wrist felt “much better” post-match, though the fall briefly dampened her spirits.
“Her play was exceptional, especially after my fall. But I stayed composed,” Mboko reflected. “I patiently capitalized on the right moments. I'm just thrilled to have rallied back after facing a match point.”
Meanwhile, Osaka, the celebrated four-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1, continued her strong performance in a WTA 1000 event not seen since her Miami final in 2022. Following a 15-month hiatus during which she welcomed her daughter Shai in July 2023, Osaka is eyeing her eighth career title and the first since her 2021 Australian Open triumph. (AP) DDV
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