All eyes are on New York as the 2025 U.S. Open kicks off, with Canadian tennis sensation Victoria Mboko set to make her main-draw debut against seasoned Czech star Barbora Krejcikova. The anticipation is palpable—Mboko, who turns 19 on August 26, enters the tournament as the 22nd seed and the top-ranked Canadian woman, fresh off her electrifying run to the WTA 1000 National Bank Open title in Montreal. Her journey to the trophy saw her topple a trio of Grand Slam champions—Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka—signaling that this teenager is ready to take on the world’s best on tennis’ grandest stages.
Mboko’s rapid ascent in 2025 is nothing short of astonishing. At the start of the season, she was ranked No. 333 in the world. Now, she’s inside the top 25, boasting a sparkling 51-9 record across all competitions. Her breakthrough has electrified Canadian tennis fans, who remember her junior circuit dominance but are now witnessing her transformation into a legitimate WTA threat. The Montreal triumph wasn’t just a fluke—Mboko’s path was littered with top-tier opposition, and she handled the pressure with a poise well beyond her years.
“I just tried to focus on every point and not let the moment get too big,” Mboko said after her Montreal victory, according to The Canadian Press. That composure will be tested again in New York, as she faces Krejcikova—an opponent with a résumé that commands respect.
Krejcikova, 29, is no stranger to the limelight. With eight career WTA titles, including the 2021 French Open and a stunning run to the Wimbledon crown in 2024, she’s demonstrated the ability to win at the highest level. At her peak, the Czech star reached No. 2 in the world rankings in February 2022. However, 2025 has been a challenging year for Krejcikova, who has battled a nagging back injury and managed just 14 matches, compiling an 8-6 record. Her recent Grand Slam performances have been inconsistent, with second-round exits at the U.S. Open in 2022 and 2024 and a first-round departure in 2023.
Despite her struggles, Krejcikova’s experience and tactical acumen make her a formidable first-round hurdle. She’s played in five main draws at Flushing Meadows, but her 6-4 record and 60% win rate are her lowest among the Majors. Still, as her Wimbledon run last year proved, she’s always capable of pulling off something special—even when the odds seem stacked against her.
This match marks the first-ever meeting between Mboko and Krejcikova on the women’s tour. The generational clash is intriguing: the fearless teenager with momentum and a powerful baseline game against the seasoned veteran who knows what it takes to win big matches. While Mboko’s 2025 has been a whirlwind of success, there are still questions about her serve’s reliability. In Montreal, she double-faulted several times, occasionally allowing opponents a way back into matches. Krejcikova, meanwhile, has shown she can grind through long encounters—eight of her 14 matches this year have stretched to three sets.
“I know I’ll have to be at my best,” Mboko admitted ahead of her U.S. Open debut. “Barbora has won Slams, and she’s always tough. But I believe in my game and what I’ve accomplished this year.”
Optimism is running high in the Mboko camp, and with good reason. Her ability to dispatch proven champions in Montreal suggests she’s ready for the U.S. Open spotlight. The timing couldn’t be better—her first-round match comes just a day before her 19th birthday, adding another layer of excitement to an already momentous week.
Elsewhere in the draw, fellow Canadians Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime have also landed favorable first-round matchups. Fernandez, seeded 31st, faces a qualifier and is enjoying a resurgent season, highlighted by her Citi Open victory in Washington, D.C. last month. She’s looking to recapture the magic of her 2021 U.S. Open run, where she finished as runner-up. Auger-Aliassime, a semifinalist here in 2021, has two titles to his name this year and recently reached the quarterfinals at the Cincinnati Masters. Both players are eager to make deep runs after early exits in previous editions.
On the men’s side, Denis Shapovalov, seeded 27th, will open against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics. Shapovalov’s season has been a bounce-back story, with two titles and a renewed sense of confidence. He’ll be looking to erase the memory of last year’s first-round exit and build on his quarterfinal appearance in 2020. Gabriel Diallo, seeded 31st, faces Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The towering 23-year-old from Montreal is making his second main-draw appearance after reaching the third round in his debut last year. Diallo’s first career ATP victory at the Libema Open earlier this season has only added to his growing reputation.
Qualifying action has also been eventful for Canadian hopefuls. Rebecca Marino moved one step closer to the main draw with a gritty three-set win over Japan’s Mai Hontama and will play the final qualifying round on Friday. However, it wasn’t all good news—Toronto’s Cadence Brace and Richmond Hill’s Carol Zhao both fell in the second round of qualifying, ending their U.S. Open bids for 2025.
As for the marquee clash between Mboko and Krejcikova, predictions are swirling. Some analysts believe Mboko’s momentum and fearless approach give her the edge, while others point to Krejcikova’s experience and the unpredictability of Grand Slam tennis. “Mboko to win in three sets,” reads one preview, citing her form and Krejcikova’s limited match play this year. Still, nothing is certain until the players step onto the court—anything can happen under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
With a new generation of Canadian stars rising and established names eager to reassert themselves, the 2025 U.S. Open promises drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments. As Mboko prepares for her biggest test yet, the tennis world watches with bated breath. Will the teenager’s dream season continue, or will the experienced Krejcikova remind everyone why she’s a two-time Grand Slam champion? The answer is just a match away, and the excitement is only building as the tournament gets underway.
