Victoria Mboko still holds Naomi Osaka in high esteem after her National Bank Open opponent omitted any mention of her from a brief consolation speech.
"I still think Naomi is an incredible player, and it doesn't ever change what I think of her," the Canadian said Thursday after winning her first career WTA title, according to the Montreal Gazette's Harry North. "She's still a really nice girl and I still look up to her."
Mboko, who entered the tournament ranked 85th, capped off a magical run in Montreal by defeating Osaka in three sets in the final. Osaka was bidding for her first championship since the 2021 Australian Open.
Osaka cruised in the first set before dropping the final two. She imploded in the third set, and failed to congratulate the 18-year-old in her on-court speech, which is customary in professional tennis. Osaka didn't attend a press conference afterward, but did offer Mboko congratulations through questions and answers provided by the WTA later on.
"I think Victoria played really well," Osaka said. "I completely forgot to congratulate her on the court. Yeah, I mean, she did really amazing."
In an old interview that resurfaced before the final, Mboko called Osaka an idol of hers. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1. She reached the final as an unseeded player, stringing together some of her best tennis of the season.
Mboko won't play in Cincinnati following the headline-grabbing success in her home country, and will instead rest before the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam of the calendar year.