The Montreal final on August 7th features an intriguing matchup between Naomi Osaka and Victoria Mboko, two unseeded players whose journeys to this stage have captivated tennis fans. Despite their unseeded status, Osaka and Mboko have proven their resilience, each saving match points en route to the final.

Osaka, ranked 49th and aged 27, is a seasoned competitor with a history of success at the highest levels. Mboko, at 18 and ranked 85th, is a rising Canadian talent who has earned considerable support from local fans, especially after her dramatic win over Elena Rybakina.

Both players share backgrounds connected to the United States but represent different countries—Osaka for Japan and Mboko for Canada. Their playing styles exhibit powerful serving and hard hitting, qualities that have impressed throughout the tournament.

Mboko reflected on her quarterfinal victory against Rybakina: “I kind of put in my head that I want to stay in there with her, and I want to bring as many balls back in the court as I possibly could, despite she was hitting a really clean and hard ball.”

While Osaka has significant experience in finals and top-level competition, Mboko is still discovering her potential on the WTA Tour. The crowd support for Mboko could play a crucial role, especially considering Osaka’s momentary loss of composure during her semifinal match against Clara Tauson.

This final promises a compelling contest between tenacity and experience, with both athletes capable of rising to the challenge.

Ben Shelton achieved a milestone in his rising career by defeating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals of the 2025 Canadian Open, marking his first appearance in a Masters 1000 final. Shelton, ranked world No. 7, faced his compatriot and No. 4 seed in Toronto and displayed formidable serving and tactical prowess. He saved both break points he encountered early in the match and secured the decisive break in the first set during the ninth game.

In the second set, Shelton broke Fritz twice, pressing his advantage to advance to the final. The 21-year-old’s serve efficiency was impressive, winning 86% of points on his first serve and 59% on his second. Meanwhile, Fritz, known for his own powerful serve, managed to claim only 57% of his service points.

After his win, Shelton expressed his excitement and determination by writing “Even more uncharted territory. Humble and Hungry” on the camera lens.

Reflecting on his performance, Shelton said, “I’ve seen so many big improvements in my game this week, that’s what I’m most happy about, how I’m executing, how little I’m hesitating, how I’m returning. There are a lot of things to be proud about and beating two top 10 guys back to back is huge for me.”

Discussing his strategy against Fritz, Shelton noted, “When he’s standing in one corner, he’s one of the best in the world at being behind the ball and hitting it harder and harder every time. I knew I had to keep him moving and I did a great job of that… I felt like I had the ball on a string. I’m just really excited to see myself executing like this, not wondering if the shot is going to go in or out, but expecting it to go in…”

At 22 years and 291 days old during the semifinal, Shelton became the youngest American since Pete Sampras at the 1992 Cincinnati Open to record consecutive wins over top 10 players at the Masters 1000 quarterfinal and semifinal stages. Additionally, Shelton stands as the youngest American to reach a Masters 1000 final since Andy Roddick, who achieved that feat at age 21 in Toronto in 2004.

In the final, Shelton will face world No. 16 Karen Khachanov, who triumphed over top seed Alexander Zverev 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) in the other semifinal. Shelton will seek his third ATP title in what will be his fifth career final. With 450 ranking points earned from this tournament run, Shelton has narrowed the gap to world No. 6 Novak Djokovic to 160 points and would surpass Djokovic in the rankings with a victory in the final.

Naomi Osaka extended her impressive resurgence at the Canadian Open by defeating Clara Tauson in straight sets to secure a spot in the final in Montreal. The four-time Grand Slam champion won 6-2, 7-6(7) against the world No. 19 Tauson in a competitive semifinal at this WTA 1000 event.

Osaka controlled the first set, breaking Tauson twice to win comfortably. Early in the second set, she appeared poised for a decisive victory, holding breaks at 3-1 and 4-2. However, Tauson rallied, breaking back twice and pushing the set to a tense tiebreak. Tauson led 5-2 and had two set points with a 6-4 lead, but Osaka steadied herself to prevail and advance.

With this final appearance, Osaka reaches her fifth WTA 1000 final, surpassing Li Na’s previous record of four finals by an Asian player in this category. Osaka’s WTA 1000 titles include Indian Wells in 2018 and Beijing in 2019. She aims for her eighth WTA Tour title, and her first since returning to the tour in January 2024 after the birth of her daughter in 2023. Her last title was the 2021 Australian Open.

This season marks Osaka’s first time reaching multiple finals since 2020, having been runner-up at the Auckland Open earlier this year. Starting this tournament ranked 49th, Osaka has climbed to world No. 24 live in the WTA rankings after earning 650 points by reaching the final. A victory over Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko in the final could bump her ranking as high as 21st.

Osaka addressed Mboko’s admiration for her during a press conference, saying, “I don’t think that’s ever happened. I’m shook (laughing). No, I mean, it’s really cute. I guess I have to have a really good attitude tomorrow. I can’t let her not like me anymore.” She added, “I see her on the TV, and I was low-key, like, ‘That’s my little twin’, because we both have our blue dresses and our buns and everything. Yeah, I mean, I’m really honoured. I always said that I would love to play someone that looked up to me in a way, so it’s happening way sooner than I thought it would.”