Canadian Open Women’s Final Preview

Even the bookmakers never saw it coming that two unseeded players in the tournament could go all the way to the final. This is the first time after 46 years this has happened and the third time in the history of the event. 

Osaka is breathing a new life after making a comeback to the sport following having mental health issues and giving birth too. In the semi-finals, Osaka served two match points in the second set to defeat in-form Clara Tauson 6-2, 7-6 to book a second final this year.

Earlier this year she was the finalist in the ASB Classic, where she retired after one set due to injury, in which Tauson got a walkover and ended up being a champion. This marks five years since Osaka last reached multiple finals in a single calendar year. That year she ended up winning the 2020 US Open title, defeating Victoria Azarenka in the pulsating three-set match. But lost to the same opponent in the Cincinnati Open title.

The 27-year-old Japanese starlet has reached five WTA 1000 finals in her career—the most by an Asian player, surpassing Na Li with four. The last time she reached a WTA 1000 final was back in the 2022 Miami Open, where she lost to Iga Swiatek in straight sets. Her record in the finals is balanced, as she has two victories and two losses. She has an opportunity to test a major trophy for the first time since the 2021 Australian Open title. It would be a deserved one since she never had an easy passage to the final. Osaka managed to overcome good-quality tennis stars, including Jelena Ostapenko, Elina Svitolina, and Tauson. It seems like she has lived up to her promise made after an early loss at the French Open, where she said that she was tired of disappointing the fans. 

Osaka faces a tough test against Mboko, who has shown signs of resilience on court. The 18-year-old Canadian youngster has grabbed the headlines playing in front of the home crowd. In probably the best week of her career, Mboko has become unstoppable and continues to break the barriers. In the semi-finals round, Mboko saved a match point to edge Elena Rybakina 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 to book a place for a final on Friday. By doing so, she became the first woman to win a WTA 1000 semi-finals match after saving a match point since Iga Swiatek back in the 2022 Madrid Open. It was sweet revenge for Mboko, as she lost to Rybakina in the Citi Open round of 16 last month. 

Mboko made history, becoming the fourth Canadian finalist in the Canadian Open and the first in six years since Bianca Andreescu back in 2019. Despite defeating Rybakina, Mboko also managed to get victories over Grand Slam winners Coco Gauff and Sofia Kenin as an indication of the hard assignment she faced on the route to the finals. 

Prediction:

Osaka seems to have found her form back in Montreal and will want to send a strong comeback message. But Mboko has made her presence felt, especially with her backhand. The experience will come into play, and Osaka will win in three sets.