MONTREAL – Toronto’s Victoria Mboko made a remarkable debut on home turf at the National Bank Open tennis tournament on Sunday, defeating Australia’s Kimberly Birrell with a score of 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round on a hot day at IGA Stadium.
“It was really fun experiencing the Canadian crowd for the first time in Montreal,” Mboko said, noting her initial nerves faded as the match progressed and her confidence grew.
Bianca Andreescu also continued a strong showing for Canadian tennis, winning against Czechia’s Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. However, the match nearly took a turn for the worse for Andreescu, as she injured her left ankle while serving for the match. She managed to receive medical attention and completed the match successfully, expressing gratitude to the crowd for their support during the post-match interview.
“I’m just super happy that I was able to pull through,” said an emotional Andreescu, who could not speak to the media afterward due to the injury. An update on her condition is anticipated following further medical evaluations.
Mboko, utilizing an impressive service game that featured 15 aces clocking over 180 kilometers per hour, expressed surprise at her performance. “I wanted to ensure a good first serve percentage. Serving like that gave me advantages and free points,” she shared. Her victory improved her season record to 46-8, showcasing her swift ascent up the WTA rankings, where she is currently ranked No. 88.
After taking a break in the second set, Mboko capitalized on a double-fault from her opponent and managed to maintain control for the rest of the match. Her victory will see her face American Sofia Kenin, who advanced automatically to the second round by virtue of her ranking.
In the night session, Rebecca Marino secured a notable victory against French qualifier Elsa Jacquemot, winning 7-6 (2), 6-1, marking her first WTA Tour-level win since December.
Earlier in the day, Marina Stakusic of Mississauga faced Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian but was unable to capitalize on a strong start, ultimately losing 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Looking forward, Canadian tennis fans have more to anticipate as Eugenie Bouchard and Leylah Fernandez will compete in their matches in the coming days, with Fernandez fresh off a title win at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C.
Mboko’s first-round win is a testament to her hard work and rising talent, providing a hopeful outlook for her future matches and the potential for Canadian athletes in the tournament.