Mboko is the first Canadian woman to make the semis at this tournament since Bianca Andreescu won it in 2019, that year held in Toronto.
Photo from @vickymboko on Instagram
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko continued her stunning breakout on Monday night, advancing to the semi-finals at the National Bank Open with another impressive victory.
The 18-year-old wild card showcased poise well beyond her years, dispatching World No. 51 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals to extend her dream run in Montreal.
Mboko’s remarkable journey isn’t over yet. The Toronto native will compete in her first-ever WTA semi-final on Wednesday, facing No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan—World No. 12 and a former Wimbledon champion who recently defeated Mboko at the DC Open in Washington. Mboko, notably, is the youngest Canadian in the Open era to reach the semi-finals of the Canadian Open. It’s easy to forget that this is her main draw debut at the tournament, given how naturally she commands the court under the spotlight.
“I’m really happy, first of all,” Mboko said after her win. “To have such an achievement at a tournament like this is really a milestone for me, and I’m just so happy that I get to have this cool experience in Montreal.”
Playing in just her third career WTA 1000 main-draw event, Mboko is rapidly emerging as one of the tour’s brightest rising stars in 2025.
Just two days earlier, she pulled off the biggest win of her career—a straight-sets upset over World No. 2 and two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff. It was her first win over a Top 10 opponent, achieved in only her third attempt. Her Montreal campaign has also included wins over 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and World No. 39 Marie Bouzkova. With each match, Mboko’s star continues to rise—more prime-time slots, growing crowds, increased media attention, and a surge in autograph and press requests.
While the crowd was sparse earlier Monday for the 6 p.m. ET quarter-final between Rybakina and Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, fans flocked to Mboko’s quiet pre-match practice, led by her coach Nathalie Tauziat—the former World No. 3 and Wimbledon finalist from France.
By the time Mboko stepped onto the court at 7:45 p.m., IGA Stadium was packed and electric for the rising Canadian star. As her run deepens, the buzz grows. Media presence has spiked in Montreal, and local sports icons like Georges St-Pierre and Bruny Surin have shown up to support her.
Mboko’s breakthrough season keeps gaining momentum. Her 2025 accomplishments already include four consecutive ITF singles titles, her first WTA-level win, sets taken off World No. 11 Paula Badosa in Miami and Coco Gauff in Rome, and a trip to the third round of Roland Garros.
Mboko is the first Canadian woman to make the semis at this tournament since Bianca Andreescu won it in 2019, that year held in Toronto.
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