WTA1000 Montreal: Tauson and Mboko serve up Montreal magic

Tauson flips the script on Swiatek

Clara Tauson continues to harness her extensive power play to post standout wins.

Take Sunday night, the Dane chalked up her maiden victory over Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek at the fourth attempt with a clutch 7-6(1), 6-3 performance.

“She's obviously a great player that I've never beaten before, so can't complain,” said Tauson with a smile.

"I think getting a win against her after losing to her in Wimbledon (6-4, 6-1) a couple of weeks ago is obviously nice, because I was not feeling great in that match, and I felt like I was playing some good tennis in Wimbledon. I felt like if I could keep that going, I thought I had a shot."

With a couple of injury maligned seasons behind her, Tauson is finding her feet within the elite strides, seemingly unfazed by tour-leading opponents.

The triumph over No.2 seed Swiatek earned a second WTA1000 quarter-final, following Dubai earlier this season, where Tauson upset world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2 en route to the final.

Injuries, adjustments, setbacks, demanding schedule, the script is familiar on tour, yet this former junior world No.1 is now fulfilling that potential in style.

“It's my second win like that in my career and second win like that in this year. So obviously it's really great, and it shows all the hard work I've been doing has been the right thing,” said the world No.19, who takes on Madison Keys (who saved two match points against Karolina Muchova in the Last 16) next.

“I think I'm getting more confidence in this kind of level and feeling like I belong here a bit more. I think that really helped me today (versus Swiatek) in the important moments.

“Even just getting to the Top 100 was a win for me when I was, like, 18 years old. Now it's falling a bit more into place, my game and the mentality part. I think I just needed a little bit of time.”

Home hope Mboko’s star continues to rise

Just like Tauson, Victoria Mboko is “fearless” whilst competing on the major stage.

The teenage sensation began 2025 all the way down at world No.333, but stormed through 20 successive wins at lower tiers, before shooting into prominence in Rome (just her second WTA event), pushing Coco Gauff to three sets in their second-round clash.

Over to Roland-Garros and Mboko qualified for a Grand Slam debut, before motoring into the third round.

The 18-year-old’s spellbinding rise continued on home soil on Saturday, when the wild-card knocked out top seed Gauff 6-1, 6-4 with a ruthless display. What a way to book a first WTA quarter-final.

“It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion,” said the world No.85.

“I really didn't feel so much pressure, to be honest… I wanted to keep my composure as much as possible and not to panic. I kind of just looked to my team, and they were just giving me ease and comforting me while I was on court.

“I just wanted to stay as solid as possible and play fearless tennis.”

It’s a been a year of milestones for the Maple Leaf protégé and in Montreal, Mboko became only the second wild-card in the Open Era to defeat the top seed at the Canadian Open. She is also the fifth youngest player to defeat the top seed in a WTA1000 tournament since the format’s introduction back in 2009.

Depending on the outcome of her quarter-final encounter with Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, she is set to rocket up to at least world No.53 in the rankings. Victory on Monday could propel the teenager into the Top 30.

Over to Gauff for the telling projection of Mboko’s potential.

“I do see someone who is going to have a really bright future, for sure,” said the Roland-Garros 2025 champion.

“She's very athletic. She's a great ball striker, and she seems pretty positive out there on the court, doesn't get really too negative.

“I've gotten to talk to her a little bit over the course since Rome. I think she has a great support system around her, and I think that's important when you're young and on tour. Hopefully we have many more battles.”