Victoria Mboko’s breakout has stunned tennis in Canada and now sets her up for a striking test at the U.S. Open. The 18-year-old capped a magical 12 days in Montreal by winning the National Bank Open, climbing from No. 85 to a career-best No. 23 and becoming the tournament’s first Canadian champion at a WTA 1000 event in her home country. Now she arrives in New York as the 22nd seed for her U.S. Open main-draw debut, facing two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova in the first round at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Mboko said she hasn’t felt much has changed in her game or mindset since that Montreal triumph, emphasizing the mental side of tennis as the key to sustaining strong performance. “I feel like I’m playing the same way,” she said. “Tennis is also very mental, so however you’re feeling with yourself and how confident you feel with your game, you’re able to produce good tennis, as well.”
The Toronto-born teenager, who grew up in Burlington, Ont., is turning heads not just for the title but for the rapid ascent that followed. She will enter the U.S. Open as the 22nd seed and will take on Krejcikova on one of the sport’s most storied stages, the second-largest arena on site after Arthur Ashe.
Mboko’s Montreal run was as unlikely as it was remarkable. To win the title, she had to defeat four players with Grand Slam titles: Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka. The wrist injury that troubled her in the semifinal against Rybakina required extra protection in Montreal and carried into recent practice in New York, but team officials say the wrap is precautionary and she is ready to go.
Her team has been deliberate about managing opportunities as her profile grows. Mboko’s agent, Marijn Bal of WME Sports, described a flood of interview requests after the Osaka win—about 120 in total—but emphasized that only a selective subset will be pursued to tell her story in a way that aligns with her values and long-term goals.
Away from the court, Mboko has already begun to capitalize on the moment with a few high-profile appearances, including throwing out the first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game shortly after Montreal. She spent time back with her family to decompress and heal, while continuing to train against top-level competition in New York, notching practice sessions against Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff as part of her prep.
Raducanu and fellow Canadian Bianca Andreescu, both older Grand Slam champions who provided inspiration, have shown that young players can break through at the sport’s biggest events. Mboko echoed their stories, noting that the titles can be won by those who stay focused, believing that the trophy is within reach for anyone who remains determined.
Looking ahead, Mboko’s trajectory offers a hopeful message for Canadian tennis: a homegrown star is on the rise, and she’s already proven she can beat the sport’s elite when it matters most. With the U.S. Open just around the corner, fans will be watching to see if the Montreal magic carries into New York for one of the sport’s most exciting young talents.
Summary: Victoria Mboko exploded onto the scene in Montreal, winning the National Bank Open and skyrocketing from No. 85 to No. 23. She head into the U.S. Open as the 22nd seed, facing Barbora Krejcikova in the first round, with a wrist injury managed as a precaution. Her rapid rise, disciplined approach, and recent practice against Raducanu and Gauff put her on a promising path as she seeks to translate Montreal’s breakthrough into continued success on tennis’ biggest stages.