MONTREAL – Victoria Mboko, the 18-year-old Canadian sensation, rocketed to national fame after winning the National Bank Open in Montreal, a dramatic comeback victory over Naomi Osaka that completed a breakthrough week for the young wildcard. Mboko’s run included wins over several former Grand Slam champions, and she became one of the few Canadians to both reach the Canadian Open final and to win the home tournament in the Open Era.
Celebrating a Sister’s Conversion and Public Support for Israel
Mboko’s athletic achievements came alongside a personal family story that has drawn attention. Her older sister, Gracia Mboko, has been publicly identified in reporting as someone who pursued conversion to Judaism in the period following Oct. 7 and was featured in a Canadian Jewish News piece about increased conversions. Gracia has also posted reflections about a visit to Israel that attracted both supportive interactions and sharp criticism online.
Gracia’s social-media posts reportedly drew positive responses from some quarters and negative reactions from others; some outlets and social posts noted interactions from prominent Canadians and tennis fans, while other online users leveled hostile, anti-Zionist comments. Reporting indicates Gracia later deactivated or limited her accounts amid safety concerns.
Abuse and Threats in Context
There are multiple reports of abusive and threatening messages aimed at public figures and athletes in recent months. Social posts and commentary connected to the Mboko family have included hostile messages, and journalists and local reporting indicate the family took steps to protect their privacy and safety.
It’s also important to place this in the wider context: other players (for example, Elina Svitolina and Katie Boulter) have publicly described receiving abusive and threatening online messages, and the WTA/ITF have documented widespread online abuse targeting players.
On-court Resilience
Despite the intense off-court attention, Victoria Mboko stayed focused on the competition. Match reports describe a composed, gritty performance in the final, overcoming an early deficit and playing through a wrist issue to topple Osaka in three sets, a win widely covered by major sports outlets.
This article is based on verified information from the Canadian Jewish News, WTA match reports, Reuters, Sportskeeda, and Sportsnet.