When Victoria Mboko shocked the tennis world at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, she earned her place among the WTA’s best as the Canadian headed into the final few months of the season.
Mboko withdrew from the Cincinnati Open following her remarkable title run in Montreal, with sights set on back-to-back shining moments in her maiden US Open main draw. The Torontonian arrived in Flushing Meadows as the No. 22 seed, the first time she has been seeded on the WTA Tour.
After taking down four Grand Slam champions at the NBO, Mboko went head-to-head with yet another former major titlist on the eve of her 19th birthday. The Canadian No. 1 faced off against two-time Grand Slam winner Barbora Krejcikova in her US Open debut, however, Mboko was ousted early.
Results were hard to come by to begin the Asian swing, but Mboko was back at her best to end the year.
The 19-year-old reached the quarter-finals in Tokyo before playing in her final regular tour event of the season in Hong Kong. The Canadian first rallied from a set down in her opening two matches, including a win over fellow WTA Newcomer of the Year nominee Alexandra Eala in the second round. Mboko then won via retirement in the quarters before, in the semifinals, Canada’s Top 2 battled for a place in the title match.
Mboko entered the all-Canadian clash against Leylah Annie Fernandez just one spot above the Lavalloise in the rankings as she looked to extend her lead as the Canadian No. 1. Again, the Torontonian found herself a set down but she showed shades of her NBO resilience once again to punch her ticket into the Hong Kong final.
Standing in the way of her second WTA title was Cristina Bucsa. This time, Mboko took the opening set, but the Spaniard won a tight tiebreak in the second to send the final to a decider. There, the Canadian converted on both her break points to get her hands on another piece of tour silverware.
Read also: Through the Years - Victoria Mboko’s Surge to Becoming Canada’s No. 1
The Hong Kong triumph bumped her up to a career-high No. 18 in the rankings, where she’d finish the season. However, there was still work to do with Team Canada in Monterrey, Mexico, at the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs.
Looking to lead the 2023 champions back into contention for a second title in 2026, Mboko needed to spark a comeback with Canada down 0-1 in their opening tie against Denmark.
The teen’s heroics were on full display as she won her singles match in straight sets before sealing the tie in doubles alongside Gabriela Dabrowski.
Next up, a tie against the host nation Mexico. Thanks to Carson Branstine’s win, Mboko had the chance to clinch Canada’s spot in the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers in her final match of the year. The world No. 18 didn’t let her perfect record in the competition come to an end, cruising to a win over Renata Zarazua to improve to 5-0 in Billie Jean King Cup play and kickstarting the celebrations for Team Canada.
Read also: Best Stories from an Unpredictable 2025 WTA Season
Mboko sets up Canada for a shot at more international-tennis glory in 2026. She soon waves goodbye to a breakthrough 2025 sitting at a career high ranking, more than 300 spots above where she started the year, with two WTA titles to her name and the key to the city of Burlington in her hand.
The WTA's best return to Toronto next summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers Aug 1 to 13 at Sobeys Stadium. Click here for information about tickets.
Feature Photo: Sarah-Jade Champagne
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