Teen Sensation Rewrites Canadian Tennis History

Montreal, August 5, 2025 – Victoria Mboko (WTA No. 85) delivered another electrifying performance at Stade IGA, overpowering Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 to advance to her maiden WTA 1000 semifinal. The hometown hero’s relentless baseline aggression and tactical maturity captivated the crowd, extending her Cinderella run at the National Bank Open.

Key Match Insights:

• 🔥 22-minute first-set masterclass: Mboko saved 3 break points at 4-4 before closing the opener with a crosscourt backhand winner
• 📈 Dominant serving stats: 78% first-serve success rate in decisive second set
• 🎾 Road to semis: Defeated No. 3 seed Coco Gauff (6-3, 2-6, 7-5) in R4 – her third Top 10 victory this season

From ITF Dominance to WTA Breakthrough

Mboko’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of revolutionary:

1. January-March: 22-match win streak across ITF events in Orlando/Cancún/Puebla
2. Roland Garros debut: Reached 3R as qualifier, pushing eventual semifinalist Ons Jabeur to 3 sets
3. Grass-court adaptation: Defeated Wimbledon quarterfinalist Magdalena Frech in SW19 opener

Historic Context:

• First Canadian semifinalist at home tournament since Bianca Andreescu’s 2019 title run
• Youngest WTA 1000 semifinalist since 17-year-old Belinda Bencic (Toronto 2015)

Semifinal Showdown: Rybakina Rematch Looms

Ninth-seeded Elena Rybakina awaits Mboko in Friday’s marquee matchup:

• Head-to-head: Rybakina leads 1-0 (6-4, 6-2 at 2025 Washington Open)
• Stakes: Winner faces either Sabalenka or Swiatek in championship match

Mboko’s post-match reaction:

"When I stepped on court today, I saw a little girl holding a ‘Vika the Giant-Killer’ sign. That’s when it hit me – I’m playing for every Canadian kid dreaming of this moment."

ATP Toronto Update:

• Alexander Zverev rallied past defending champ Alexei Popyrin 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3
• Semifinal opponent: Karen Khachanov (leads H2H 4-3)
• Novak Djokovic withdraws from Cincinnati Masters, US Open prep in question