'I'm in shock': Naomi Osaka’s wholesome reaction to facing her idolizer Victoria Mboko in Canadian Open final

Naomi Osaka has stated she is "in shock" after learning that Victoria Mboko considers her an idol. The Japanese star spoke to the microphones after reaching her first WTA 1000 final in three years, where she will face the Canadian teenager in an effort to add a new title to her trophy collection at the Canadian Open.

The four-time Grand Slam champion has not lifted a WTA-level title since 2021 when she was crowned champion of her second Australian Open. It feels like not much time has passed since Osaka dominated the Tour, with two titles in Australia and two others at US Open, in addition to reaching No. 1 for the first time in January 2019, when Mboko was only 12 years old.

Her last appearance in a WTA 1000 final was at the Miami Open in 2022, where she fell to Iga Swiatek, who also guaranteed her first time as world No. 1 after the tournament.

Osaka has had a remarkable week in Montreal and recently secured her position as a seeded player at the upcoming US Open, returning to the top 25 for the first time since January 2022. Osaka, 27, is experiencing a career resurgence and is just one step away from winning another title.

From saving match points to facing a teenage star

Osaka is on a six-match winning streak, eliminating three seeded players along the way. In the second round against Liudmila Samsonova (13th seed), she saved a couple of match points in the second set, in the only match where she has conceded a set in the tournament. In fact, Osaka has overcome most of her opponents without too many problems. Her path in the tournament includes wins over Ariana Arsenault (6-4, 6-2), Samsonova (4-6, 7-6, 6-3), Jelena Ostapenko (22nd, 6-2, 6-4), Anastasija Sevastova (6-1, 6-0), Elina Svitolina (10th, 6-2, 6-2), and Clara Tauson in the semifinals (6-2, 7-6), saving two set points in the second set.

She is just one step away from the title and will have to face the 18-year-old local, Victoria Mboko. The Canadian is in her first WTA 1000 main draw and defeated rivals like Coco Gauff (1st) and Elena Rybakina (9th) on her way. The tournament's surprise star said a few years ago that her idol is precisely Osaka, whom she looked up to as a role model when she was taking her first steps on the Tour.

"I don't think that has ever happened before. I'm in shock (laughs)," Osaka said about being a role model for her next opponent. “No, I mean, that's really cute,” she added about Mboko, who is nine years younger than her.

“I don't know, it's funny because I see her on the TV, and I was low-key,” the former No. 1 added. “That's my little twin, because we both have our blue dresses and our buns and everything. Yeah, I mean, I'm really honored. I always said that I would love to play someone that looked up to me in a way, so it's happening way sooner than I thought it would.”

Osaka has guaranteed her best ranking so far as world No. 24 and would become world No. 21 if she wins the title. Perhaps even more relevant for Osaka's confidence would be lifting her seventh title, which would also be her third WTA 1000 title—adding to Indian Wells 2018 and China Open 2019.

She will face a remarkable Mboko who seems to have nothing to lose. The Canadian is another who will see a strong boost in her ranking to reach world No. 34, her best ranking so far. If the Canadian wins the title, she will climb into the top 25 and will also have a spot as a seeded player at the US Open.