At just 12 years old, Victoria Mboko witnessed Naomi Osaka’s remarkable journey as the young Japanese athlete clinched her first of four Grand Slam titles at the 2018 U.S. Open.
Clearly, that moment left a lasting impression.
Although the 18-year-old Canadian has often cited Serena Williams as her primary inspiration, she revealed to La Presse in 2021 that Osaka was also among her all-time favorites.
This Thursday, an unexpected showdown awaits as both players prepare to clash in the National Bank Open presented by Rogers final.
Upon hearing from a reporter about Mboko’s childhood admiration for her, Osaka couldn’t help but smile, responding, “Oh God.”
“I don’t think that’s ever happened. I’m shook,” Osaka exclaimed with laughter, reflecting on the uniqueness of facing someone who looked up to her. “It’s really cute. I guess I have to maintain a positive attitude for Thursday. I can’t let her not like me anymore.”
Now at 27, Osaka is at a different chapter in her life, having welcomed motherhood in 2023. This match marks her first encounter with a player born in 2006—the same year Mboko entered the world.
“It’s amusing because I see her on TV and I was low-key thinking, ‘That’s my little twin’ with our similar blue dresses and buns,” said Osaka, who has been cheerful and engaging with the media this week, showcasing her newfound rhythm on the court.
“I feel privileged. I always wished to play against someone who admired me, and it’s happening much sooner than I anticipated.”
Let’s dive into the intriguing storylines surrounding this historic final—the first between unseeded players in the NBO women’s tournament since 1979:
Mboko expressed she was feeling “a lot better” after her thrilling three-set victory against Elena Rybakina on Wednesday, although she did require a medical timeout to have her right wrist treated after a tough fall in the third set.
After such an exhilarating win, it’s normal to feel renewed. How she feels during practice just hours before the match will be crucial in determining if her wrist could hinder her performance.
Recall Bianca Andreescu’s ankle injury during her opening match against Barbora Krejcikova, where despite immense pain, she claimed victory but ultimately withdrew from her next match just an hour prior.
With so much on the line, Mboko will push herself to compete even if she’s not at her best. If Osaka notices any physical limitations, she’ll likely capitalize.
Interestingly, Osaka had to withdraw from her only previous final this year in Auckland due to an abdominal injury after a first-set victory against Tauson.
Could the crowd sway the match?
On Thursday morning, less than 100 tickets remained, promising Mboko her third packed crowd of the week. Fans are eager to witness a Canadian seize the NBO singles title for the first time in Montreal.
The audience was electric as Mboko made a stunning comeback against the 2022 Wimbledon champion, with some fans even cheering for missed serves by Rybakina.
Rybakina didn’t hide her displeasure post-match.
“That wasn’t pleasant, obviously,” she remarked. “I’ve played in many matches where the crowd favored the other player, but here, it felt particularly tough right from the start, especially during serves.”
Mboko, meanwhile, is relishing the support. During a practice session, a cyclist outside the venue shouted “Bonne Chance” as she prepared for her match.
“The enthusiasm from everyone truly lifts me during challenging moments,” she shared. “I’ve felt incredibly fortunate to receive such positivity this week.”
A win for Mboko would make her the second youngest player in the Open era (since 1968) to defeat four Grand Slam champions in a single tournament. In Montreal, she has already achieved victories over Rybakina, two-time Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff, and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
Starting the year ranked outside the top 300, Mboko aims to finish the week in the top 35 if she loses, or the top 25 if she wins. She entered her seventh WTA main draw at No. 85.
Should she triumph, she would also become the second-lowest ranked WTA 1000 champion ever, following Kim Clijsters’ win in Indian Wells at rank 133.
If Mboko had not advanced this far, the spotlight would be firmly on Nokia’s resurgence.
After returning from her break in 2023, Osaka has worked hard to rediscover her elite form. By reaching her first WTA 1000 final since Miami 2022, she stands one victory away from capturing her first tour-level title since her 2021 triumph at the Australian Open.
Osaka boasts an impressive tally of seven career titles at the tour level.
Even if she doesn’t clinch the title, Mboko will see a significant boost to her earnings this year.
The Canadian athlete has garnered $396,263 thus far, with the runner-up receiving $391,600 and the champion taking home $752,275.
To date, Mboko’s career earnings total $458,001, while Osaka has amassed an impressive $22.8 million.
This final marks the fourth tour-level championship match this decade where both players saved match points to get here.
Mboko saved one match point against Rybakina, while Osaka overcame two match points in her second-round match against Liudmila Samsonova.
Interestingly, the Cincinnati Open, also a WTA 1000 event, begins on the same day as the NBO final.
By advancing to the final in Montreal, both Mboko and Osaka secured performance byes for the first round of Cincinnati.
However, it’s uncertain whether Mboko and Osaka will compete, as they may choose to rest ahead of the U.S. Open later this month.
If Mboko does participate in Cincinnati, she would face No. 14 seed Diana Shnaider of Russia in the second round, while Osaka would meet No. 20 seed Linda Noskova from Czechia.
