Defending champion Victoria Mboko to miss National Bank Open with knee injury

TORONTO: Defending champion Victoria Mboko has confirmed she will miss next month's National Bank Open as she continues her recovery from a left knee injury.

The Canadian announced the news in an Instagram post on Tuesday, expressing her disappointment at being unable to compete in front of her home supporters.

"Some tournaments mean a little more than others," the World No. 10 wrote.

"But the @nbotoronto means everything to me. Not being able to play at home this summer in front of the people I love and with the support of the Toronto crowd is deeply disappointing as it has been something I’ve been looking so much forward to.

"I am sharing this message with you as this is a part of my journey, one that has just started. I will be back…!❤️"

Mboko enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough at last year's National Bank Open, which was staged in Montreal, claiming the biggest title of her career as an 18-year-old wildcard.

Ranked No. 333 at the start of 2025, she stunned the tennis world by defeating four Grand Slam champions Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka on her way to the trophy.

She later added a second WTA title in Hong Kong and has since reached finals in Adelaide, Doha and Strasbourg, making her Top 10 debut in February.

Her injury occurred last month at Queen's Club, where she slipped on the grass during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova, a day after winning her opening-round doubles contest alongside Serena Williams.

Mboko later confirmed she had suffered an MCL injury, ruling her out of the remainder of the grass-court season and now extending her absence into the North American hard-court swing.

"Everything kind of happened so fast," Mboko said in a Wilson-branded video accompanying her Instagram post.

"There were so many emotions going through my mind. It's only a little setback, and I want to be a better person out of this."

"Toronto was a tournament that I always went to growing up. The National Bank Open also holds a special place in my heart. Knowing that I won't be able to play this year, it's very saddening. But I feel like I have so many more years ahead of me to play this tournament."