Victoria Mboko saw her dreams of defending her title at the Canadian Open fade away due to an injury that forces her to miss the most special tournament of her career to date. The young Canadian, who surprised the tennis world with a meteoric rise last season, confirmed that she will not be able to compete at home this summer, also missing other crucial tournaments for her ranking.
Just over a year ago, Mboko was virtually unknown, starting the season outside the top-300 in the world. Everything changed after a brilliant run to the third round at Roland Garros, which secured her entry into the top-100. However, the real impact occurred on Canadian soil, when Mboko won the Canadian Open in her debut, defeating Grand Slam champions such as Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka in a run that catapulted her into the top-30.
The fairy tale continued with her victory at the Hong Kong Open, taking her into the top-20, and a runner-up finish at the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier this year allowed her to break into the top-10 of the world rankings. Mboko also shone at the Queen’s Club Championships alongside Serena Williams, winning her debut match in women’s doubles. However, a fateful slip during the singles draw, which caused her a knee injury, forced her to miss Wimbledon and put the remainder of her season at risk.
After initially hinting at a return at the start of the American swing on hard court, the Canadian was forced to take more time off, confirming that she will miss at least two tournaments, including the much-anticipated defense of the Canadian Open. Through social media, Mboko shared her dismay: “Some tournaments mean a little more than others. But the @nbotoronto means everything to me. Not being able to play at home this summer, in front of the people I love and with the support of the Toronto crowd, is deeply disappointing, as it was something I had longed for a long time. I share this message with you because it is part of my journey, a journey that is just beginning. I will be back…!”
Mboko's absence will have immediate repercussions on her ranking. In 2025, the 19-year-old player earned important points with a victory over Anastasia Potapova at the Washington Open, before losing to the third seed, Elena Rybakina. Now, she is forced to forfeit the 60 points earned at the DC tournament, as well as the 1,000 points from her title in Toronto.
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Currently positioned at 10th place in the live world ranking, with 3,580 points, Mboko will drop to 2,520 points as soon as the 1,060 are deducted, which will see her fall to 17th place. This scenario could worsen, as other players close in the ranking will also lose points in the coming weeks.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for Mboko. If she can recover in time for the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, she will have the advantage of not having any points to defend in Mason, as she did not participate in the tournament last year. In New York, she only defends 10 points, resulting from an early exit in 2025.
The immediate future of Victoria Mboko now depends on her physical recovery and her ability to return to competition at the highest level. The absence from the Canadian Open marks an unexpected pause in her rise, but the young athlete promises that this setback will be just another chapter in her still short, but already memorable, career.
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