(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Victoria Mboko Withdraws from Cincinnati Open to Heal Wrist Injury After Historic Montreal Win
Rising Canadian tennis star Victoria Mboko has announced her withdrawal from the Cincinnati Open to focus on recovering from a wrist injury sustained during her remarkable run at the National Bank Open in Montreal.
The 18-year-old sensation, who entered the tournament ranked No. 85, stunned the tennis world by defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the final to capture her first-ever WTA title — and at the prestigious WTA 1000 level.
Mboko’s incredible week also included a grueling semifinal victory over Elena Rybakina, during which she fell and injured her right wrist. Despite the setback, she fought through the pain to win both the semifinal and the final. However, the injury has not fully healed.
Speaking to reporters after her Montreal triumph, Mboko confirmed that she would skip Cincinnati, where she was scheduled to face Diana Shnaider in the opening round.
“I’m not planning on playing Cincinnati at the moment. I just want to take care of my wrist right now. It’s too close and sudden to play again in just two days, so I’ll prepare for the upcoming tournaments instead,” she explained.
The teenager, who has now soared to No. 24 in the WTA rankings, will next compete at the US Open, set to begin in just over two weeks. Before heading to New York for her debut at Flushing Meadows, Mboko plans to spend some well-deserved downtime with friends and family.
“For the next couple of days, I just want to relax and enjoy time with my loved ones,” she added.
With her breakthrough victory in Montreal and a new career-high ranking, Mboko has firmly established herself as one of the brightest young talents in women’s tennis — and fans will be eager to see her back in action when she takes the court at the US Open.
