Canadian Tennis Fans Disappointed
In a surprising turn of events, Canadian tennis fans are left disappointed as both Victoria Mboko and Naomi Osaka, the finalists from the recent Canadian Open, have withdrawn from this week’s Cincinnati Open. Announcements on Friday revealed the news just a day after Mboko clinched her first WTA 1000 title in front of a passionate home crowd, overcoming Osaka with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Injury and Withdrawal
The 18-year-old Canadian, who was ranked outside the top 300 at the beginning of the year and has since skyrocketed to a career-high No. 24, cited a left wrist injury as the reason for her decision to pull out. Mboko had undergone an MRI prior to the announcement, as she revealed to reporters that she sustained the injury during her semifinal match.
“I just want to take care of my wrist a little bit right now,” Mboko explained. “I think it’s just very close and sudden for me to go there and play again, I think in, like, two days. I think I’m just going to sit out on that one and prepare for the upcoming tournaments.”
Osaka’s Schedule Change
On the other hand, Osaka, a former world No. 1 and currently ranked No. 25, also withdrew for reasons classified as a “change of schedule”. This marked her first final appearance at a WTA 1000 event since 2022, further intensifying the shock over her sudden decision to step back from the competition.
Impact on Cincinnati Open
Both players had received exemptions into the second round at Cincinnati due to their performances in Montreal but will now be replaced by lucky losers from the qualifying rounds. Cristina Bucsa and Yuan Yue will contest for a chance to face No. 14 seed Diana Shnaider, while Solana Sierra and Iva Jovic will vie for a position against No. 20 seed Linda Noskova.
Looking Ahead
Despite their absence in Cincinnati, Mboko and Osaka are poised to be seeded in the upcoming US Open, reflecting their recent successes on the court. Their withdrawals highlight the physical toll of professional tennis, especially with overlapping tournament schedules and demanding match formats. Fans of the sport will undoubtedly be keeping an eye on their recovery ahead of the US Open.
