Vicky Mboko, Canadian wild card, dominates Coco Gauff in straight sets in Montreal

New York Times

2 days ago

Vicky Mboko, world No. 85 and wild card at the Canadian Open, secured the biggest win of her career, trouncing two-time slam champion Coco Gauff in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 in Montreal on Saturday night. This time last year, Mboko was ranked outside the top 300. Now, the 18-year-old Canadian is into the quarterfinals of her home tournament, dominating the world No. 2 in one hour and two minutes.
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Gauff started the match flat. Immediately, Mboko broke and consolidated to take an early 2-0 lead. Gauff began to increase the number of unforced errors, as she struggled to control her groundstrokes. In particular, Mboko's strategy was to attack Gauff's forehand, a smart decision. Serving 2-1 and facing a Gauff break point, Mboko served to her forehand, which the American dumped into the net.
18-year-old Victoria Mboko fends off multiple break points to hold serve 👊#OBN25 | @OBNmontreal pic.twitter.com/iRCTn1p7A0
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 2, 2025
Later in the first set at 4-1, Mboko rallied to Gauff's forehand, which she sailed wide.
As the set progressed, Gauff struggled to land a serve in and hit a clean groundstroke. The No. 1 seed in Canada hit 50 percent of her first serves in the opening sets and tallied three double faults. One of Gauff's second serves, trailing 5-1, didn't make it halfway up the net. Mboko looked calm, not succumbing to the pressure of facing a top player.
She raced to a 6-1 first set win in 25 minutes, lighting up the boisterous crowd.
The Gauff mistakes continued in the second set. Most notable at 3-3, the American finally had an opening where she had three break-point opportunities. Instead of capitalizing, Gauff hit a slice and forehand into the net. On the third break point chance, facing Mboko's second serve, Gauff overhit her backhand, sailing long.
Mboko seized on Gauff's mistakes to hold serve. Up 5-4, Gauff tossed in two double faults and a slice into the net on match point, giving Mboko her signature victory.
Gauff's exit at the Canadian Open followed two three-set match wins. Her struggling serve and unforced errors defined her short stay in the Montreal draw. In her first match, Gauff won 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (2) over fellow American Danielle Collins despite tossing 23 double faults. Her next match, a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Veronika Kudermetova, saw Gauff commit 14 double faults and 53 unforced errors.
Pressure? What pressure 🧊
Victoria Mboko reaches her first ever WTA 1000 quarterfinal after taking out the top seed Gauff 6-1, 6-4.#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/S3X8ttdadw
— wta (@WTA) August 3, 2025
Against Mboko, Gauff had six double faults and 23 unforced errors.
For Mboko, the dream run continues after wins over 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and world No. 39 Marie Bouzkova. The Canadian will face the winner of Zhu Lin and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the quarterfinals. With Saturday's win, Mboko is projected to be 55th in the WTA Rankings.