Montreal Day 10 recap served up by IGA: Vicky! Vicky! Vicky!

Victoria Mboko’s magical run at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers continued on Monday night with a standout 6-4, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to reach the first WTA 1000 semi-final of her young career. She won the final six games of the match in front of a delirious crowd at IGA Stadium to book her place in the final four. 

With the win, the 18-year-old becomes the youngest Canadian in the Open Era to reach the NBO semi-finals and the first Canadian woman to reach to reach the semi-finals at the tournament in Montreal. The historical significance of what she’s accomplishing this week continues to add layers. 

In Wednesday’s semi-finals, Mboko will face world no. 12 Elena Rybakina who advanced after Marta Kostyuk was forced to retire early in the second set of their quarter-final contest. The former Wimbledon champion will be making her second straight semi-final appearance in Montreal. She is the youngest player to reach back-to-back semi-finals in Montreal since Caroline Wozniacki (2010-2012). The match will also be her tenth career semi-final at the WTA 1000 level. 

Gauff and Kessler into the doubles final 

After being eliminated in singles by Mboko, Coco Gauff will play for the NBO doubles title alongside her compatriot McCartney Kessler. The American pair defeated Olga Danilovic and Su-Wei Hsieh 5-7, 6-4, 10-6 to reach Thursday’s final. 

The second singles semi-final will be determined on Tuesday with Madison Keys taking on Clara Tauson followed by Elina Svitolina going up against Naomi Osaka. 

Photos: Sarah-Jäde Champagne & Amélie Caron