Victoria Mboko of Canada reacts to her win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during quarterfinal tennis action at the National Bank Open in Montreal on Monday.
Canada’s newest tennis sensation, Victoria Mboko, has taken the Montreal tennis scene by storm. The 18-year-old wild card has marched her way into the semi-finals of the National Bank Open with yet another impressive win—this time over World No. 51 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
In just under 90 minutes, the Toronto-born star defeated the Spaniard 6-4, 6-2. This victory marks a major milestone in her young career, and the ride isn’t over yet.
Mboko Set for WTA Semi-Final Showdown
With Monday’s win, Mboko now prepares to face her toughest opponent yet—World No. 12 and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. This will be a rematch of their recent clash in Washington, where Rybakina emerged victorious. But this time, the crowd will be firmly behind the Canadian teen as she steps onto home soil for her first-ever WTA semi-final.
From Wild Card to Centre Stage
What makes Mboko’s performance even more remarkable is that this is her main draw debut at the National Bank Open. She’s the youngest Canadian ever to reach the semis in the tournament’s Open era. Just days ago, she shocked the tennis world by defeating World No. 2 Coco Gauff in straight sets—her first victory over a Top 10 opponent.
Her Montreal journey also includes wins over 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and World No. 39 Marie Bouzkova. These high-profile wins have made Mboko the new face of Canadian tennis.
A Star on the Rise
Mboko is quickly becoming one of the breakout stars of the 2025 WTA season. Her rapid rise includes four ITF titles this year, a third-round appearance at the French Open, and competitive sets against top players like Paula Badosa and Coco Gauff earlier in the season.
Ranked No. 85 at the start of the tournament, Mboko’s Montreal heroics will see her break into the Top 50 for the first time.
A Match That Showcased Grit
In Monday’s quarter-final, both players showed nerves early on, saving break points in their first service games. Mboko took control by breaking Bouzas Maneiro to go up 5-3. She stumbled briefly with a double fault while trying to serve out the set, but bounced back immediately with another break to take the opener.
The second set began with Mboko losing serve, but she quickly recovered. Down 0-2, she dug in, roared on by the Montreal crowd, and reeled off six straight games to seal the match.
“I think that moment was just pure fight-or-flight instincts,” said Mboko after the match. “I did everything in my power to stay in there.”
Montreal Embraces Its New Tennis Star
The atmosphere in Montreal has shifted dramatically. What started as a quiet backcourt practice with coach Nathalie Tauziat has turned into packed night matches with roaring fans. Mboko’s matches now draw celebrity spectators and enthusiastic autograph seekers. From Georges St-Pierre to Bruny Surin, Canadian icons are showing up to witness her meteoric rise.
Making History and Inspiring a Nation
With this semi-final appearance, Mboko becomes the first Canadian woman to make it this far at the event since Bianca Andreescu’s 2019 title run. She’s also the youngest woman to reach the semis since Belinda Bencic in 2015.
Victoria Mboko’s fearless style, raw talent, and unmatched determination have made her the story of the tournament. On Wednesday, she’ll face her toughest challenge yet—but if her run so far is any sign, she’s far from done.
