Canada's Victoria Mboko has withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Toronto due to a knee injury sustained last month at the HSBC Championships in London. The 19-year-old from Burlington, Ontario, is the defending champion at the WTA 1000 event and was ranked No. 10 in the world when the injury occurred.
What injury is keeping Mboko sidelined?
Mboko injured the medial collateral ligament in her left knee during a match against Karolina Pliskova of Czechia at the HSBC Championships, according to CBC. The injury will sideline her for the remainder of the grass-court season and extend into part of the North American hardcourt season, preventing her from defending her 2025 title at the National Bank Open.
Why this matters to Mboko
The National Bank Open holds particular significance for Mboko, who grew up in Toronto and won her maiden WTA title at the tournament last year. In a video posted to Instagram, she expressed disappointment at missing the event in front of her home crowd. "Toronto was a tournament that I always went to growing up," Mboko said, according to Sportskeeda. "The National Bank Open also holds a special place in my heart. Knowing that I won't be able to play this year is very saddening, but I feel like I have so many more years ahead of me to play this tournament."
Support from the tennis community
Mboko's withdrawal drew messages of encouragement from fellow players. Coco Gauff responded to Mboko's announcement with a teary-eyed emoji and a heart, while Sloane Stephens wrote an encouraging comment, according to Sportskeeda. Mboko herself expressed confidence in her recovery, stating that the setback would make her stronger.
The National Bank Open is scheduled for August 2 to 13 at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto. Tournament director Karl Hale said the organization was disappointed to miss Mboko's title defence but wished her well with recovery.
Sources
- CBC: Knee injury will prevent Mboko from National Bank Open women's title defence in Toronto. CBC Sports, 2026-07-07.
- Sportskeeda: Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens & tennis world heartbroken for Victoria Mboko as Canadian announces nightmare injury update. Sportskeeda, 2026-07-08.
Reported from public sources.