Montreal at a glance: Mboko looks to keep it going, Rybakina back in familiar territory

Here’s a closer look at Monday’s two final eight matches. 

First meeting between Mboko & Bouzas Maneiro 

Tennis truly is a family affair for Mboko. Her dad is a huge fan and her two older brothers and sister played, with varying styles. Two of her siblings owned attacking games while the other counterpunched. 

That could be the reason Mboko possesses those contrasting elements herself. 

And as for her now noteworthy calmness on court, her brothers say it’s an extension of her off-court demeanour. 

The 18-year-old really does appear to be taking everything in her stride despite her career — and life — changing week at the NBO. 

Already the youngest Canadian woman to make a quarter-final at the NBO since 1987, she could become the youngest to make the semi-finals in the Open Era and just the third wildcard to do it since 1990. 

Starting the year ranked outside the Top 300, she’s now guaranteed to soar to at least the mid-50s even if Bouzas Maneiro ousts her Monday night.  

Beating top seed Coco Gauff in the fourth round in straight sets on Saturday made for one of the best nights of her life, she said. 

In the last three rounds, Mboko has indeed thrived in the spotlight playing under the lights at IGA Stadium, backed — heavily — by the loud Montreal fans. 

“Every day they've been coming to all my matches and supporting me a lot,” said Mboko, who trained in Montreal and speaks French. “I couldn't be more grateful. I've never really had so many people cheering for me in a tournament, especially a WTA tournament. To have that kind of support at a tournament like this, it's amazing.”

Bouzas Maneiro, who will reach a new career high in the rankings herself — around no. 43 even if she exits — knows those fans will be behind Mboko once again. 

“Yeah, it's a local. I know that she's going to have all the support, but I'm ready for that,” said the 22-year-old. 

“I know that she's a fighter. She’s put in a lot of power in her game. I need to be there every point.”

Bouzas Maneiro — into her first WTA 1000 quarter-final — has garnered a reputation already for being especially tough in big matches on big courts. She’s a fighter, too. 

Bouzas Maneiro upset Marketa Vondrousova at Wimbledon in 2024, Emma Navarro at the French Open in May, and took out Grand Slam winner Sofia Kenin at Wimbledon this year. 

Like Mboko, she went 2-0 in her debut in the Billie Jean King Cup in April, earning upset wins over Beatriz Haddad Maia and Linda Noskova. 

Rybakina & Kostyuk face off for fourth time 

Rybakina got the better of Dayana Yastremska in a huge hitting duel Saturday that stretched past two-and-a-half hours. 

She’s used to putting in the miles of late — and also in Montreal over the years. 

The 2022 Wimbledon champion, for instance, lost a three-tiebreak match against Leylah Fernandez in the Washington semi-finals last month that exceeded three hours. 

In Montreal in 2023 on the way to the semi-finals, Rybakina prevailed in marathon tussles against former Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady and Daria Kasatkina. 

Who could forget the latter in particular? It ended close to 3 a.m. and Rybakina saved a match point (converting on her fifth chance). 

The conditions in Montreal suit her game, she says. 

“I think that the site is really nice and also the fans are always nice, so I'm really happy to be here again,” said Rybakina. “Overall, I think it's fast courts” and balls she enjoys. “So, it's very good for my serve, especially when it's going.”

Rybakina leads Kostyuk 2-1 in their previous matches, prevailing in the last two while only conceding a total of seven games. 

However, Kostyuk’s confidence is rising after entering Montreal on a six-match losing streak. She’s won all three of her matches from a set down (and with some spectacular shots). 

Kostyuk might not be able to match Rybakina’s power — few can — but her all-court game can disrupt opponents. 

Photo: Sarah-Jäde Champagne