For the second consecutive match, the 18-year-old Canadian had to dig deep for resilience after losing the first set but fought back to claim 2-6 6-4 6-1.
Mboko started the year at world number 333 but is expected to climb to 34 following a win that pleased her home fans. I was so excited to be playing in Montreal for the very first time. I just recall being nervous, but soaking it all in as much as I could,” Mboko said.
“When I defeated my first round, I was so happy and so content. I would have never imagined that I would have gotten to the final, let alone won the tournament. I have so many feelings running through my head, I can’t even put them into words. Mboko defeated four Grand Slam winners along the way to gathering the title before 11,000 fans.
The men’s Canadian Open final, being contested between Karen Khachanov and Ben Shelton concurrently in Toronto, had to be stopped when the crowd erupted in celebration after they heard Mboko had won her match.
American Shelton, who emerged victorious 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3), was perplexed at the reaction and said “what’s going on?” before approaching the chair umpire to say something.
“Congratulations on the title, Vicky Mboko. I had no notion what was happening at the time, but Toronto went crazy over you,” Shelton posted on Instagram. Mboko has developed the habit of beginning slowly on home ground in the last two weeks – recovering from a setback to triumph on three occasions.
She was having trouble finding her rhythm at the start, with 22 unforced errors paving the way for Osaka to close out the first set in 38 minutes. The second set was a mess with seven serve breaks, but Mboko asserted herself with a break to take the lead 5-2.
Serving for the set, she produced three double faults to return the break, but did go on to force a decider after holding her next service game. Mboko broke to love in the first game of the third set but could not hold on as Osaka struck straight back.
But the favourite from home town then won the last five matches, eliciting cries of “Allez Vicky” as she confirmed the win. Mboko has played at two Grand Slams this season – making it to the third round at the French Open and the second round at Wimbledon.
The US Open, starting on 24 August, is next on the agenda, but Mboko was anxious to put a dampener on the expectations. I’ll be doing it for the first time, so there’s a lot of new beginnings for me,” Mboko said.
“Though I’m learning everything for the first time this year, I think during the process it’s going to be an up-and-down process, but I just want to enjoy the process as much as possible. Nothing will go my way, or nothing is going to be good, but I’m just so pleased to be in this position. I think it toughens you up.”
