Down match point to Elena Rybakina in the Montreal semi-finals, Victoria Mboko found a way through, then beat Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 for the 2025 Canadian Open title. She was 18, a wildcard, and had started that season ranked outside the top 300; earlier in the week she had also taken down Sofia Kenin and top seed Coco Gauff. Her 2 career titles both came in that breakout year, Hong Kong following in the autumn.
Born in Charlotte in August 2006 to parents who left the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mboko grew up in Toronto, the youngest of four tennis-playing siblings, and hits a heavy serve behind a counterpunching two-handed backhand with a fondness for the drop shot. The rise has held. Early in 2026 she reached finals in Adelaide, Doha and Strasbourg, made the second week of the Australian Open and climbed to a career-high No. 9 in March, all before turning 20.
Nearly four years. That is how long it has been since Serena Williams last played a singles match, and at 44 she is about to play another: Wimbledon has handed the 23-time Grand Slam champion a wildcard into the 2026 ladies’ singles.
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