Osaka’s Comeback Shines as She Reaches Montreal Final
So, have you been following the tennis action in Montreal? Because something pretty incredible is unfolding at the National Bank Open. Naomi Osaka — yes, that Naomi Osaka, four-time Grand Slam champ — is officially back in a WTA 1000 final for the first time since 2022. And honestly, it feels like we’re watching a full-circle moment in her career.
After taking time off for the birth of her daughter and a long journey back to top-level tennis, Osaka has been putting together a quietly solid season. But this week in Montreal? She’s turning that quiet momentum into a roar. On Wednesday night, she booked her spot in the final with a 6-2, 7-6 win over Clara Tauson. It wasn’t just the win — it was the way she played. That powerful ground game, the booming forehands, the calm under pressure — it all felt vintage Osaka.
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Now, it wasn’t without drama. She nearly lost grip on the second set after holding a commanding lead. Tauson clawed her way back into it, and suddenly we were in a tiebreak with Osaka’s place in the final on the line. But when it counted most, Osaka dug deep. Tauson double-faulted at the worst possible moment, Osaka capitalized with a forehand winner, and then — match point. A return into the net from Tauson, and just like that, Osaka was through.
And now, the final is set: Osaka versus Victoria Mboko, the 18-year-old Canadian wildcard who’s been on a magical run of her own. This is Mboko’s first tour-level final — and she’s earned it, no question. She’s taken down names like Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina, saving a match point and electrifying her home crowd with every swing. Her win over Rybakina in the semis was a true edge-of-your-seat, three-set battle that showed not just talent but grit.
What makes this final even more wild is that both players are ranked outside the top 40 — something that’s never happened in a WTA 1000 final since the format began in 2009. But here they are. Osaka, trying to reclaim her place at the top. Mboko, trying to announce herself to the world.
And the stakes? Massive. Both players have already secured over $390,000 in prize money and 650 ranking points just by reaching the final. But a win would be a major career milestone — especially for Osaka, who hasn’t lifted a trophy since the 2021 Australian Open.
It’s a story of redemption meeting a story of arrival. A seasoned champion finding her rhythm again, and a young star just getting started. Whatever happens Thursday night in Montreal, one thing’s for sure — tennis fans are in for a treat.
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