At just 18 years old, Victoria Mboko has claimed her first WTA title in Montreal, defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a compelling three-set match, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Mboko’s victory marks her as the first player since the introduction of the WTA 1000 format in 2009 to win a maiden tour-level title at this tier, and the second teenager this year to do so following Mirra Andreeva’s success.

The match began with Osaka taking control, breaking early and cruising through the first set, capitalizing on Mboko’s errors. The young Canadian faced adversity, notably landing awkwardly on her wrist during the semifinal yet still advancing.

In the second set, Mboko’s defensive prowess helped her break early and gain momentum. She demonstrated remarkable composure and depth, ultimately forcing a decisive third set. Throughout the final set, Mboko maintained her composure amidst multiple breaks of serve, finishing with a commanding 6-1 scoreline.

This triumph not only highlights Mboko’s resilience and skill but also marks a significant milestone in her budding career, as she becomes just the second-youngest player in the Open Era to defeat four Grand Slam champions in a single tournament.

Her path to the title was marked by a blend of tactical returning and mental toughness, overcoming moments of error and pressure. The Montreal crowd’s support undoubtedly played a role, rallying behind their new champion on this memorable night.

Venus Williams received a warm welcome at the Cincinnati Open, marking her first WTA 1000 appearance of the 2025 season, but her return to Center Court ended with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The former world No. 1, competing on a wild card, played her first tournament since the 2024 Miami Open and showed glimpses of her renowned form before bowing out after one hour and 27 minutes on Thursday.

Ranked No. 51, the 22-year-old Bouzas Maneiro made her Top 50 debut recently and impressed with a career-best Wimbledon run to the fourth round. Despite relative inexperience against top-ranked players, having faced only six Top 10 opponents, she capitalized on key moments to secure the win.

Williams, competing in her 31st year on tour and returning to Cincinnati for the first time in two years, demonstrated resilience early on, leveling the first set after trailing by two breaks. However, a crucial service game lost to Bouzas Maneiro swung the opening set. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Williams fighting back from an early deficit, but the decisive break came at 4-4, handing the Spaniard the chance to serve out the match.

At match point, Williams saved one with a powerful forehand, but Bouzas Maneiro clinched victory on her second opportunity. Looking ahead, Bouzas Maneiro will face No. 21 seed Leylah Fernandez, the recent Mubadala Citi DC Open champion, who had a first-round bye. Williams, a two-time US Open champion, is set to compete in mixed doubles alongside Reilly Opelka but has indicated she may not return for further singles tournaments after the US Open this season.

Williams expressed a timeless perspective on competition at her Media Day: “If there’s the one thing I know, it’s that you’re never too young or too old to win or to lose. Winning and losing knows no age. All that matters is that, for me, I’m prepared and ready. The longer I play and the more I get into it, and the more I train, the better I get.”

Karen Khachanov expressed immense satisfaction after securing a spot in the final of the 2025 Canadian Masters, following a tense 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4) semifinal win over world No. 3 Alexander Zverev. The Russian overcame a match point en route to the victory, demonstrating resilience and composure during the crucial third-set tiebreak.

This marks Khachanov’s second Masters 1000 final, having previously reached and won the Paris-Bercy final in 2018 against Novak Djokovic. “Yeah, definitely feels good,” he said in his post-match press conference. “Having a great run so far, having another opportunity to play the final in this big event. So, yeah, super happy, super proud to do it once again.”

Khachanov acknowledged the ups and downs of his career, noting the balance between Masters 1000 events and other significant achievements. “Even though it’s been quite a few years, but at the same time during this period I achieved some other great results in the Grand Slams, or the other achievements, so that’s why.” He emphasized that at such stages, both players deserve to win, and the outcome often hinges on who performs better in critical moments.

He detailed the pivotal moments in the match: “I was down 3-1, then I came back to 3-All. Then, it seems he made two unforced errors. But again, maybe I put a little bit more pressure, he got a little bit more nervous, more tight. So, this is how you play in those moments. You try to bring your A-game, and you can win, you can lose, but it is what it is.”

Khachanov will face Ben Shelton in the final, who reached his first career Masters 1000 final by defeating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3. The pair have met once earlier in the year at Indian Wells, where Shelton won 6-3, 7-5.

Reflecting on his performance in Canada, Khachanov admitted initial discomfort with the conditions but stressed adaptation as a key factor in his success. “When I came here I didn’t like the conditions. I can say it now. But that’s all about adjusting and adapting. I think tennis is all about that. Every week we play in different events. That’s why a lot of things matter sometimes on the results, so that’s why I think the question is about who adapts better. After you pass a couple of rounds, you start playing better.”