Victoria Mboko, the reigning champion and World No. 10, has officially withdrawn from the 2026 Canadian Open due to a persistent left knee MCL injury. The Canadian tennis star shared the news via Instagram on Tuesday, confirming she will be unable to defend her title.
Injury at Queen’s Club Halts Momentum
Mboko first suffered the MCL injury last month during her match against Karolina Pliskova at the Queen’s Club, where a slip on the grass abruptly ended her grass-court season. This misstep not only forced her out of further singles competition but also halted her planned doubles partnership with Serena Williams at the HSBC Championships. The injury now extends its impact by sidelining her for the entire North American hard-court season, including the upcoming Canadian Open.
The National Bank Open, scheduled from August 2nd to August 13th, holds particular significance for Mboko as a native of Toronto. Expressing her regret, she remarked, “Knowing that I won’t be able to play this year, it’s very saddening, but I feel like I have so many more years ahead of me to play this tournament.”
Rising WTA Star Faces Setback
Mboko’s absence comes as a disappointment given her remarkable ascent in the WTA rankings. Just last summer in Montreal, the then-18-year-old entered the tournament as a wild card ranked No. 85. She stunned the tennis world by defeating four Grand Slam champions—Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka—to claim her first career title.
This injury-induced break abruptly halts what had been a promising trajectory for Mboko, who had been steadily climbing the ranks and making a name for herself on the world stage. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely as she recovers and plans her return to competition.