MusaIn a historic and headline-grabbing upset at the 2025 National Bank Open (NBO) in Montreal, 17-year-old Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko shocked the tennis world by defeating World No. 2 and top seed Coco Gauff in straight sets to book her spot in the quarterfinals.
Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, Mboko delivered the performance of her young career, outclassing the reigning US Open champion 6-4, 6-3 in just under 90 minutes. With fearless shot-making and relentless court coverage, the Canadian teen overpowered Gauff, who was widely expected to make a deep run in the tournament.
Mboko, a wildcard entry, showed nerves of steel as she broke Gauff early in both sets and held her serve under pressure. Her ability to neutralize Gauff’s powerful groundstrokes and expose her inconsistencies with deep, angled returns set the tone for the entire match.
In her on-court interview, Mboko couldn’t contain her excitement:
“I’m still shaking. Coco is someone I’ve looked up to for years. To beat her here in Canada, in front of this crowd—it’s unreal. This moment means everything.”
For Coco Gauff, who came into the tournament as the No. 1 seed and a title favorite, the loss marks a disappointing early exit and a wake-up call before the US Open. Gauff admitted she was not at her best, citing struggles with her serve and rhythm, but credited Mboko for her outstanding level.
“She played incredible tennis,” Gauff said in her post-match press conference. “I wasn’t consistent enough, and she made me pay for it.”
The Montreal crowd erupted as Mboko sealed victory, becoming the youngest Canadian to reach the NBO quarterfinals in over a decade. Her composure and resilience against one of the WTA’s top stars have instantly made her one of the most talked-about names on tour.
Mboko’s win is not only a milestone for her personally but a potential turning point for Canadian tennis, which has long searched for its next female superstar. The victory over Gauff will significantly boost her WTA ranking and confidence heading into the final stretch of the hardcourt season.
As the Canadian Open 2025 continues, all eyes are now on Victoria Mboko, who will face another tough opponent in the quarterfinals. For now, her stunning triumph over Coco Gauff has already cemented her as a rising star with Grand Slam potential.
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