Mboko Out With Knee Injury
Defending Champion Victoria Mboko Withdraws From National Bank Open Due to Knee Injury
Key Points
Mboko disclosed a left knee medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury after slipping during a Queen's Club match with Karolina Pliskova in June, which has sidelined her from the remainder of the grass-court season and Wimbledon.
The injury also forced Mboko to retire from the doubles quarter-final at Queen’s Club, where she was partnered with Serena Williams.
Mboko’s breakout last year came at the National Bank Open in Montreal, where, as an 18-year-old wildcard, she captured the title by defeating four Grand Slam champions: Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka.
The Canadian Open in Toronto is scheduled for August 2-13 at Sobeys Stadium, with organizers planning to release the 96-player singles draw, and tournament director Karl Hale emphasized best wishes for her recovery.
Mboko’s rise to the WTA Top 10 in February followed a rapid progression, including finals appearances in Adelaide, Doha and Strasbourg before her Montreal breakthrough.
Victoria Mboko, the 19-year-old world No. 10 from Burlington, Ont., has withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Toronto, ending her bid to defend the title she won last year, according to ARN News Centre. A left knee medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear — suffered when she slipped during a Queen's Club match against Karolina Pliskova in June — has kept her off the court ever since.
The withdrawal means Mboko will miss not only the Canadian Open, scheduled for August 2–13 at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, but also the remainder of the grass-court season and parts of the North American hard-court swing, Freedom 96.9 reported. Tournament director Karl Hale extended best wishes for her recovery.
How a Slip at Queen's Club Ended Her Season
Mboko hurt her left knee in June at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club in London. She slipped during her match against Karolina Pliskova and could not continue. The injury forced her to retire from the doubles quarter-final as well, where she had been partnered with Serena Williams, according to Seek Your Sounds.
Doctors confirmed an MCL tear — damage to a ligament on the inner side of the knee. Mboko has not played a competitive match since the incident. The injury also ruled her out of Wimbledon. She is now working toward a return later in the year, ARN News Centre reported.
Last Year's Wildcard Win Made Toronto Personal
Missing Toronto carries extra weight for Mboko. In 2024, she entered the National Bank Open in Montreal as an 18-year-old wildcard and stunned the field. She defeated four Grand Slam champions in a row: Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka to claim the title, Essentially Sports reported.
That win launched her into the WTA Top 10 by February 2025. She also reached finals in Adelaide, Doha, and Strasbourg before the injury struck. Playing in front of her home crowd in Toronto was something she called deeply meaningful. "It is heartbreaking," she said of missing the event, per Head Topics.
Toronto Tournament Moves Forward Without Its Champion
The Canadian Open runs August 2–13 at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto. Organizers are preparing a 96-player singles draw. Tournament director Karl Hale said the organization supports Mboko fully and wishes her a fast recovery, according to Freedom 96.9. Her absence creates a wide-open field for the women's draw.
Tennis Canada also acknowledged the withdrawal publicly. The organization noted the significance of a young Canadian champion missing her home event. At just 19, Mboko is expected to return to competition before the year ends, Seek Your Sounds reported. Her long-term outlook remains positive.
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