Victoria Mboko’s dream week at the Canadian Open continued on Wednesday night.
Twice Elena Rybakina served for the match against Victoria Mboko, but she could not put away the 18-year-old star, who has sent shockwaves through the WTA Tour this week.
The Canadian, who defeated Coco Gauff in round four, saved a match point against Rybakina before winning 1-6 7-5 7-6.
Canadian fans have said goodbye to two of their nation’s greats at the Canadian Open, Eugenie Bouchard and Vasek Pospisil. However, Mboko looks set to be the flagbearer for the new Canadian generation.
By defeating Rybakina on Wednesday, Mboko achieved something for Canada that had never been seen before in the Open Era.
Victoria Mboko defeats three Grand Slam champions in one week
Mboko’s run at the Canadian Open has readjusted any expectations tennis fans may have had for the 18-year-old.
Although Mboko has performed exceptionally well this year, winning multiple ITF Tour titles and picking up match wins at Grand Slams, she has not enjoyed another week as impressive as the one in Canada.
As per OptaAce, Victoria Mboko is the first Canadian player to defeat three former Women’s Singles Grand Slam champions in a single WTA event in the Open Era.
In the first round, Mboko swept aside 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, winning 6-2 6-3. Three rounds later, the Canadian crushed US and French Open champion Coco Gauff, dismantling the American 6-1 6-4.
The 18-year-old’s triumph over Elena Rybakina made it three out of three for the Canadian: Rybakina won the 2022 Wimbledon Ladies Singles title.
Mboko has the chance to make more history when she plays in the Canadian Open final on Thursday evening.
Mboko could defeat four Grand Slam champions in one week
Victoria Mboko faces another Grand Slam champion in the Canadian Open final.
The 18-year-old will play four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who has displayed resurgent form since working with Iga Swiatek’s former coach, Tomasz Witkorowski.
The Japanese star defeated Clara Tauson in the second semi-final, winning 6-2 7-6.
Osaka is looking to win her first tour-level title since her last Grand Slam victory at the 2021 Australian Open. Meanwhile, Mboko will be hoping to capture her first WTA Tour title on one of the biggest stages the tour has to offer.
