The 18-year old shook off an opening set loss to battle back and upset the Japanese superstar, recording a 2-6 6-4 6-1 victory. Mboko dropped to the ground in disbelief as Osaka’s final shot crashed into the net, sending the Montreal crowd into rapturous applause.
The first set saw Osaka dominate from the baseline, relying on her experience and powerful groundstrokes to dictate play. However, Mboko appeared to overcome any jitters as the match progressed, matching Osaka’s pace and surprising the four-time Grand Slam champion with precision that belied her youth
After splitting the first two sets, momentum swung in Mboko’s favor. The Canadian was firing on all cylinders, while an increasingly frustrated Osaka began to commit more errors.