Of the nine Canadian women who started in the main draw at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, only one remains in Montreal. It happens to be the youngest one, too, in Victoria Mboko.
After wins over Kimberly Birrell, Sofia Kenin and Marie Bouzkova, Mboko gets her biggest challenge yet in top-seeded Coco Gauff.
Let’s take a closer look at the fourth-round encounter under the lights that’s bound to captivate both Canadian sports fans and tennis fans around the world.
Form this week
Mboko conducts herself like a seasoned veteran, similar to the still only 21-year-old Gauff.
She passed her sternest test when she took top billing on Thursday night against Bouzkova, coming from a set down for the first time in her WTA main draw career versus the in-form Czech.
Mboko knew going into the match that she’d have to hit a lot of balls given Bouzkova’s excellent movement and sizzled in the last two sets. A thigh injury did hamper Bouzkova – who was coming off a title in Europe – but Mboko executed her attacking style to perfection, winning the decider 6-0.
Her backhand down the line particularly stood out, whereas in her first two wins, the serve perhaps shone the most. She reached double digits in aces against both Kenin and Birrell, whose best surface is hard courts.
Photo: Pascal Ratthé
Gauff hasn’t been entirely happy with her own game, most notably with her serve. She hit a combined 37 double faults in her two victories against hard-hitting shotmakers – like Mboko – Danielle Collins and Veronika Kudermetova.
However, Gauff’s never say die attitude, court coverage and ability to mix things up, continually stand out. No wonder she’s landed two Grand Slam titles. Gauff broke Collins when her friend served for the match in the third set and trailed Kudermetova by a set and 3-1.
When the serve is working, it’s one of the most potent on tour.
What’s at stake
In her debut appearance at the NBO, Mboko could reach a first top-tier quarterfinal and become the youngest Canadian women's quarterfinalist at the event since 17-year-old Helen Kelesi in 1987 (who would lose to the legendary Chris Evert).
And if she beats Gauff, she would also notch a maiden win against Top 10 opposition (currently 0-2).
Her ranking would (again) take a big jump. She was no. 85 coming into Montreal and she’s sure to move inside the Top 70 even if Gauff prevails. A win would get her to around no. 55.
Meanwhile, Gauff bids for a third straight quarterfinal in Montreal. If she loses, it might bode very well for Mboko, since Gauff lost to the eventual champions in 2023 (Jessica Pegula) and 2021 (Camila Giorgi).
Any past meetings?
Despite Mboko’s limited time in the upper echelons of the game, she and Gauff have faced off before. That was on clay in Rome in May. Gauff lost the first set before triumphing 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The most eye-catching stat? Mboko won 22 percent of her second-serve points. In case you’re wondering about double faults given Gauff’s current predicament, the Floridian hit eight to Mboko’s six.
Gauff showered Mboko with heavy praise afterwards.
“For sure on the movement, I would say she's up there with me on that,” said Gauff. “I would say on the movement side athletically she's one of the best athletes on tour.”
How has Gauff fared against Canadians on the tour? She’s 6-0.
Get the popcorn ready…
Photos: Mathieu Bélanger & Pascal Ratthé
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