Montreal: Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko have booked a championship showdown after securing gritty semi-final wins at the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Japan's Osaka, who is chasing her first tour-level title since the 2021 Australian Open, displayed resilience by saving a pair of set points in the second-set tiebreaker to secure a 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson. Tauson was coming off impressive victories over Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek and Australian Open winner Madison Keys.
Mboko, an 18-year-old wild card, delivered a thrilling performance, saving a match point to achieve a 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) victory over former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. The young Canadian credited the crowd's energy for her success, especially after sustaining a sore right wrist in the third set of her first tour-level semi-final. Despite facing a setback with a fall, Mboko managed to overcome the challenges with the support of her ecstatic fans.
Mboko, who had previously defeated top-seeded French Open champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round, displayed remarkable tenacity. She fought back from an early break in the third set, saving a match point and breaking Rybakina in the 10th game to level the set. Although Rybakina broke back for a 6-5 lead, Mboko held her ground, leading to a tiebreaker where she emerged victorious.
Expressing her emotions after the match, Mboko highlighted the stress of the decider but was grateful for the support she received. Her journey this season has seen her rise from outside the top 300 to 85th in the rankings, with her performance in Montreal assuring her of breaking into the top 40.
Osaka, a former world number one, has shown renewed energy this week following a coaching change. Her performance against Tauson was marked by determination, as she overcame challenges in the second set and secured her place in the final, marking her first appearance in a WTA 1000 level event final since Miami in 2022.