Elena Rybakina is expecting another tough test from Victoria Mboko.
The 18-year-old is into the semi-finals after defeating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 to become the third wildcard to reach the semi-finals in Canada, and the first for a decade.
Elena Rybakina is finding her form after reaching two successive semi-finals following a third-round exit at the Wimbledon Championships.
Victoria Mboko has dropped just one set in Montreal so far and therefore, with both players playing well, their semi-final looks set to be an exciting one.
Elena Rybakina on facing Victoria Mboko next in Montreal, ‘She’s dangerous… she has nothing to lose’
“What stood out about Victoria when you faced her last in Washington?”
Elena: “Yeah, she’s a tough opponent. She has really good strokes, and she plays fast, and she has really… pic.twitter.com/AKYHW190lE
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 5, 2025
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Elena Rybakina says Victoria Mboko has ‘nothing to lose’ ahead of their Canadian Open semifinal
At the Canadian Open, Rybakina and Mboko will face each other for the second time.
On this occasion they will know what to expect and Mboko will have the advantage of playing in front of her home crowd.
She has proven to be fearless throughout this campaign so far, and that is exactly what Rybakina is expecting when she battles Mboko for a spot in the Canadian Open final.
“She’s a tough opponent. She has really good strokes, and she plays fast, and she has really good serve,” she said.
“I feel like in Washington it was also a bit difficult for both of us since it was a night match, and the conditions were, like, very different. Now we are playing here, and it’s more consistent, I would say.
“So she’s definitely dangerous. She has nothing to lose, and I’m sure she’s enjoying it out there. Yeah, it’s going to be a tough one. Hopefully I can bring my best.”
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesVictoria Mboko will enter the WTA’s top 50 after the Canadian Open
Including ITF events, Mboko has won over 50 matches in 2025.
The teenager commenced the season on a 22-match winning streak which helped her win five titles on the lower-tier ITF Tour.
Mboko has carried that from onto the WTA Tour, where she has been competing since March, and she is set to break new ground.
Following her semifinal appearance in Canada, Mboko is set to enter the WTA’s top 50 for the first time after the tournament in Montreal has concluded.