Teenager Mboko stuns world number two Gauff in Montreal

In what is already being hailed as one of the biggest upsets of the 2025 WTA season, 17-year-old Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko stunned World No. 2 Coco Gauff in front of a roaring home crowd at the Canadian Open in Montreal. The teenager, largely unknown to the global audience before this match, delivered a fearless and dominant performance to eliminate the tournament favorite in straight sets: 6-4, 6-3.

Playing with maturity beyond her years, Mboko controlled the tempo, dictated rallies, and capitalized on Gauff’s uncharacteristic errors. The Canadian teenager showed no signs of nerves as she broke Gauff early in the first set and never looked back. Her aggressive forehand and composed service games kept the pressure on the American star throughout the match.

For Coco Gauff, the loss comes as a shock. Entering the tournament as the No. 2-ranked player in the world, the 2023 US Open champion was expected to cruise through the early rounds. However, Gauff struggled with her serve, tallying six double faults and managing only a 52% first-serve percentage. Her unforced errors mounted as Mboko continued to apply pressure with deep returns and consistent baseline play.

Mboko, speaking after the match, said, “This is unbelievable. Coco is someone I’ve watched and admired. To share the court with her, let alone win, is a dream come true.” The crowd at IGA Stadium erupted in applause, fully behind their local star, who now becomes the youngest Canadian to reach the quarterfinals at the Canadian Open in over a decade.

This win propels Victoria Mboko into the global spotlight and significantly boosts her WTA ranking. With her confident shot-making and calm demeanor, tennis fans are already touting her as a future Grand Slam contender.

Coco Gauff showed sportsmanship in defeat, embracing Mboko at the net and offering words of encouragement. In her post-match interview, Gauff admitted, “She played lights-out tennis. I didn’t bring my best today, and she absolutely deserved to win.”

The upset shakes up the Canadian Open draw and signals the arrival of a new face in women’s tennis. Mboko’s victory over Gauff marks a changing of the guard moment and injects fresh excitement into the WTA Tour.

As the tournament continues, all eyes will now be on Victoria Mboko to see whether this historic win was a breakout moment—or just the beginning of a remarkable career.