Tennis: Canadian teen Mboko outlasts Osaka to win WTA Montreal crown - Omni sports
Mboko, 18 and playing in her first WTA final, denied Osaka her first tour-level title since the 2021 Australian Open, wearing down the Japanese star, 27, who has struggled to find consistency since returning from maternity leave early in 2024.
Mboko, who was ranked outside the top 300 to start the season and had climbed to 85th entering the week, is now projected to rise to 34th in the world.
Before an ecstatic center-court crowd of 11,000, she converted eight of her nine break points, seizing her fourth win of the week over a Grand Slam winner.
She ousted former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the second round and toppled reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff in the fourth before saving a match point en route to a semi-final victory over former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina.
"It feels unbelievable right now," Mboko said, adding that "words cannot really describe how the day went."
It started with an MRI on the right wrist she injured in the semi-finals, and ended with a come-from-behind victory over one of her childhood heroes and a final ovation from delirious fans who have taken her to their hearts.
"I think when I had that winning moment and seeing so many people standing up and cheering for me, it was kind of a surreal experience," Mboko said. "I would never have thought that something like this would have come so suddenly.
"I think it just proves that your dreams are closer than you think they are."
Displaying vintage power and precision, Osaka gave her inexperienced opponent little room to maneuver in the first set, gaining an early break on the way to a 3-0 lead and pocketing the set when Mboko, who had 22 unforced errors in the set, misfired on two forehands to drop her serve a second time.
Mboko turned the tide in a second set that featured seven breaks of serve. Osaka looked bewildered as Mboko ramped up the pressure, the Canadian breaking her at love for a 5-2 lead.
Serving for the set, however, Mboko coughed up three double faults and was broken. Osaka capitalized on the reprieve with a hold at love, but Mboko took the set in the next game when Osaka sailed a forehand long on set point.
Osaka appeared demoralized as she was broken at love to open the third set.
Mboko, who had 13 double faults in the match, couldn't consolidate the break.
'Allez Vicky'
But Osaka was on the ropes again in the third game, drawing a warning for batting a ball skyward in frustration after missing her first serve on break point -- which she surrendered with another errant forehand.
That launched a run of five straight games for Mboko.
Winners were proving hard to come by for both players, and when the Canadian saved four break points to hold for a 3-1 lead, Osaka had a mountain to climb that finally proved too steep.
When Osaka smacked a backhand into the net on match point, Mboko dropped to the court as the crowd -- who had backed her all the way with chants of "Allez Vicky" -- roared one more ovation.
Osaka, who came into the tournament ranked 49th in the world, had appeared energized in Montreal after a coaching shakeup. But she couldn't maintain her positive attitude as Mboko pulled away for the win.
"It's kind of funny. This morning I was very grateful. I don't know why my emotions flipped so quickly, but I'm happy to have played in the final," she said.
"I think Victoria played really well," added Osaka, who was so dejected she neglected to offer her congratulations at the trophy presentation.
While Mboko will skip the Cincinnati Open that started, Thursday, Osaka was looking forward to seeing how she responds in the final tuneup for the US Open.
"I felt like I could have played better, but I'm not really sure which aspect... it's going to be interesting to see what my next match is and how I'm going to play."
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Follow us on:
Short link:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
10 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: Swiatek advances by walkover into Cincinnati fourth round - Omni sports
Wimbledon winner Iga Swiatek of Poland advanced to the fourth round of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open on Sunday as upcoming opponent Marta Kostyuk was forced to withdraw. The 27th-ranked Ukrainian cited a right wrist injury for the pullout, which came a day after six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek, seeded third, advanced to the third round with the loss of just five games. Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 Roland Garros champion, also benefited from a walkover as Camila Osorio withdrew with an abdominal injury. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: Sinner storms to quick-fire opening win in Cincinnati - Omni sports
Jannik Sinner, back on court nearly a month after his Wimbledon triumph, crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan in his opening match at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The world number one got immediately back in the swing with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over the out-classed Colombian. Sinner won the opening five games in 15 minutes as he allowed his 144th-ranked opponent, who came through qualifying, little breathing rom. The victory in 59 minutes was the fastest of Sinner's ATP career, beating his previous quickest by one minute. The defending champion claimed his 22nd consecutive win on hardcourt, last losing the Beijing final in September to rival Carlos Alcaraz. "I didn't know what to expect," Sinner said of his return to tournament action. "I'm happy because it's not easy to play here. "The ball is flying and you have to serve very precise if you want to go far in the tournament. "Today I was finding my spots but there is still a little room to improve. For a first match it could not have gone better." After snapping up the first set Sinner broke to start the second before Galan clawed out a hold in a seven-minute game in which he fought off five break points. But it was only a momentary reprieve. Sinner fired three aces to hold for 3-1 as he roared away again for the victory. Elsewhere 11th-seeded Casper Ruud bowed out, falling 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-2 to France's Arthur Rinderknech. Norway's Ruud fell victim to 34 unforced errors and lost serve four times as he failed to stop the comeback of his 70th-ranked opponent, who advanced in just under two and three-quarter hours. Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti was also sent packing, beaten 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) by France's Benjamin Bonzi. Rinderknech was pleased with his success so far at his Cincinnati debut. "I stayed aggressive throughout the match," he said. "You cannot let Casper start to dictate. I knew I would have to run a lot. There were some missed shots but I just kept going for it. "My game seems to be working better and better as I play more matches," added Rinderknech, who saved eight of the nine break points he faced. Seventh seed Holger Rune won his opener 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) over Russian Roman Safiullin and will next play American Alex Michelsen, who defeated Corentin Moutet of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Tommy Paul, seeded 13th and inactive since a Wimbledon second round loss, started up with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Spain's Pedro Martinez. Swiatek eases through In WTA action, reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek earned an efficient opening win over Anastasia Potapova 6-1, 6-4. Poland's Swiatek has reached the final four at the last two editions but Cincinnati remains one of the two 1000-level tournaments -- along with Canada -- where she has never played a final. The third seed moved into the third round after a bye in just 74 minutes, saving four of the five break points she faced. "I wanted to play solid - but intense as well," Swiatek said. "It was up and down in the second set. "But in the important moments I got my level up to close out the win. "The first match at any tournament is always tricky," Swiatek added. "Now I have the chance to play another one here." (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tennis: Rybakina's coach cleared by WTA Tour to return from suspension - Omni sports
The coach of 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has been cleared by the WTA Tour to return from his suspension for a potential breach of its code of conduct. Stefano Vukov was provisionally suspended in January while the tour conducted an investigation. It announced in February that had been completed and that the ban remained in place, without saying how long it would last. The organization said Friday that Vukov would again be permitted to receive credentials allowing him access to player areas and practice courts at its events. 'The WTA is fully committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all athletes and other participants, as set out in our WTA Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Code,' the tour said in a statement. 'Any sanctions issued following a breach of these safeguarding rules are carefully considered and are subject to appeal before an independent tribunal. While case details remain confidential, we can confirm that Mr. Vukov is eligible to receive credentials at WTA events.' The New York Times first reported that Vukov's ban had been lifted. Rybakina announced before last year's U.S. Open that Vukov would no longer be her coach, but then said before the Australian Open that he would be rejoining her team. She insisted that he had never mistreated her during their time working together. Rybakina, ranked No. 10 on the WTA Tour, just reached the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Montreal before losing to Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, the eventual champion. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
