Naomi Osaka Reacts to Victoria Mboko Naming her As her Idol Ahead of Their Canadian Open Final Clash

Naomi Osaka to face Victoria Mboko in her first WTA 1000 final of the season at the Canadian Open.

Naomi Osaka Reacts to Victoria Mboko Naming her As her Idol Ahead of Their Canadian Open Final Clash

Naomi Osaka and Victoria Mboko (via X/The Tennis Letter)

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Naomi Osaka is set to take on teenage sensation Victoria Mboko in the final of the Canadian Open in Montreal. The Japanese star is in her first WTA 1000 final of the season, while the 18-year-old Canadian star is in her maiden tour-level final after defying all odds to beat Elena Rybakina in the semi-final.

Osaka continued her resurgent form at the Canadian Open as she overcame Clara Tauson in the semi-finals. The former Australian Open winner had arrived at the tournament with a poor run at the Washington Open but since appointing Tomasz Wiktorowski as coach, she has flourished on the courts in Montreal.

After defeating Jelena Ostapenko and Anastasija Sevastova, she then upset Elina Svitolina in straight sets in the quarter-finals. Facing Tauson on Wednesday (August 6), she began comfortably, breaking the Danish star three times to claim the first set 6-2. Osaka continued with the same form in the second set and was already up 4-2 before Tauson found her way back into the game.

The 19th seed then pushed for a tiebreak and looked set to take the match to a third set after leading 5-2 in the tiebreak. But, Osaka rallied back to win seven of the next nine points and claim a 6-2, 7-6(7) victory.

During Osaka’s press conference, she was told by a reporter that when Mboko was still in the Juniors four years ago, she had revealed that the former World No.1 was her idol. The 2021 Australian Open champion reacted that she’s honored to be looked up to by the sensational youngster:

I don’t think that’s ever happened. I’m shock. No, I mean, it’s really cute. I guess I have to have a really good attitude tomorrow. I can’t let her not like me anymore. I don’t know, it’s funny because I was, like, I see her on the TV, and I was low-key, like, ‘That’s my little twin’, because we both have our blue dresses and our buns and everything. Yeah, I mean, I’m really honored. I always said that I would love to play someone that looked up to me in a way, so it’s happening way sooner than I thought it would.

Osaka is now seeking her eighth WTA career title and first since returning from maternity leave in January 2024. Her most recent title came at the 2021 Australian Open. However, this is her second final of the season, having reached her first at the Auckland Open in January this year.

Victoria Mboko defeats three former Grand Slam champions to reach Canadian Open final

Victoria Mboko etched her name in the history books of the Canadian Open after she produced a resounding comeback to beat the former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in three sets. The 18-year-old lost the first set and saved a match point in the second set before going on to win 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4).

Victoria Mboko (2)
Victoria Mboko (Image via X/Team Canada)

The youngster, who entered the tournament through a wildcard, is now in her first WTA final. She achieved that in front of the home crowd, who cheered her in every match she played. She revealed during her on-court interview that she wouldn’t be in the final without their support:

I had everyone supporting me and pushing me through. Without you guys, I don’t think I would’ve been able to pull this through.

Mboko’s remarkable journey to the final of the Canadian Open is startling, as she has now beaten three former Grand Slam champions, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Sofia Kenin, to reach this stage. Also, she’s set to break into the Top 50 of the WTA rankings, just over seven months after being ranked World No.333.