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A leap year, tennis-speaking, for a meteoric ascent.Ìý

Glory days for Victoria Mboko —Ìýand for a nation suddenly crushing on this sweetly audacious 18-year-old — and a glorious summer evening in Montreal, crowned in her own right as Queen of the Canadian Open. Or Princess. Or Lady-Girl, whatever becomes a champion most in this Masters 1000, just one rung below a Grand Slam.Ìý

(All right, National Bank Open presented by Rogers, if forced into a sponsor mouthful.)Ìý

For the fourth time at this breakthrough event, the teenager took out a former Slam champion and only one younger teenager has ever done that before. Serena something.Ìý

On this night, it was four-time Slam titlist Naomi Osaka who felt the slice of Mboko’s racquet on her neck and what has quickly become the Burlington teen’s signature affect — resist, reload, rebound —Ìýcoming back from a set down against her bewildered and sagging opponent 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.Ìý

Dispelled were concerns about the grossly swollen wrist upon awakening Thursday, what many had feared would be the morning after result from a fall and hand slam 24 hours earlier, in her defeat of 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. She’d played through the pain the night before, borne on the wings of adrenaline, but Mboko was feeling it now. An MRI showed no significant damage, just the swelling, addressed with ice and heavy taping.Ìý

This match on the heels of a two-hour and 46-minute encounter against the opponent from Kazakhstan. Would she be exhausted? Would her run stagger in the crunch of a final, in front of a MbokoMania crowd at IGA Stadium, breathless on every point, erupting on every winner, and rollicking through a match of many peculiarities.Ìý

At the centre of the pandemonium stood Mboko, with her extraordinary poise and her sinewy toughness.Ìý

Seven match wins in a row on the courts where she now mainly trains, following what she described as a “lonely’’ year at the Justine Henin Academy in Belgium.Ìý

First Canadian woman to claim this title since Bianca Andreescu in 2019, enroute to the U.S. Open laurels.Ìý

Third wild card to reach this final in the Open era after Monica Seles (1995) and Simona Halep (2015).Ìý

Zooming from World No. 333 at the start of the season to Top 25 when the new rankings are releasedÌý— and seeded for the upcoming U.S. Open.Ìý

The accomplishments are studly and yet again Mboko was in awe, dropping to her knees on the match point that Osaka whacked into the netÌý— the poor woman did appear entirely defeated and unengaged long before thatÌý— before hugs all-around with coaches and allies in her box.Ìý

Before that weird-looking trophy was placed in her hands.Ìý

Before a cheque cut for $752,275 (U.S).Ìý

Asked in her on-court interview immediately after what 18-year-old Vicky would have told “Little Vicky’’ in her dream-on days, Mboko responded: “Honestly, I would tell myself to never stop believing. When I was younger, these kinds of achievements seemed so far away. I would have never known it would come so close.Ìý

“So, to do something like this, to tell my younger self just to keep training, keep believing in yourself, andÌý— oh my God, I’m getting so emotional right now.’’Ìý

Later, in the trophy ceremony, Mboko thanked herÌýfamily and fans. “All my siblings, both my parents, I wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for them. And lastly, I want to thank every one of you who came to support me throughout this whole week.Ìý

“You guys were incredible and I couldn’t me more grateful.Ìý

In there, Mboko also saluted her opponent. “I’ve always looked up to her when I was really little.’’Ìý

An unintended backhanded compliment maybe. Osaka is only 27 years old and has four times stood in the winner’s circle of a Slam. But she’s on the comeback trail after a maternity timeout. A strange careerÌý— four Slam championships and just three other WTA titles for the former World No. 1.Ìý

Osaka —ÌýJapanese-Haitian, having relinquished her American citizenship to represent Japan at the 2020 Tokyo OlympicsÌý— is immensely likeable and was quite charming in how she spoke about Mboko after winning her own semi over Clara Tauson on Wednesday.Ìý

“It’s funny because I saw her on TV and I was, like, ‘That’s my little twin’. Because we both have our blue dresses and our buns and everything.’’Ìý

Told that Mboko had spoken about her admiration of Osaka growing up, Osaka was both pleased and chuckling. “I’m really honoured. I always said I would love to play someone that looked up to me in a way. It’s happening way sooner that I thought it would.’’Ìý

Osaka, however, was visibly less enchanted with Mboko after that opening set when the Canadian was trounced, defaulted and broken in her first service game, racking up double faults as Osaka, clearly targeting Mboko’s forehand (the taped hand)Ìý— romped 6-2 in 37 minutes.Ìý

Those were the last moments of ease for Osaka.Ìý

The second set was a break-fest, five in a row before Mboko held serve at 4-2 to consolidate, despite committing her eighth double fault. Seven breaks of serve combined in that set as the teenÌýserved and held to force the decider.Ìý

But it had become obvious that Osaka was back on her heels in the match, mentally and physically. It should be remembered that Osaka was reduced to tears during the trophy presentation at the 2018ÌýU.S. OpenÌý— she took down Serena WilliamsÌý— believing (wrongly) that the crowd’s boos were aimed at her. She then retired midway through the French Open in 2021, after refusing to do a mandatory post-match press conference and subsequently took a lengthy mental health break followed by motherhood. This is her comeback bid.Ìý

The crowd at the IGA Stadium was clearly getting under Osaka’s skin. At one point she covered her ears. Ultimately, in the third set, she appeared emotionally de-coupled from the match and broken-spirited.Ìý

It wasn’t the crowd, though, that made the difference. It was three straight breaks to start the set, Mboko dragging Osaka back to deuce seven times when she almost navigated a break, Mboko holding on for dear life at 3-1 off a deft drop shot, Osaka broken at 4-1, Mboko up a double break and, really, the teenager could do no wrong from there on in.Ìý

From Summer McIntosh to Victoria Mboko: The teens are all right.Ìý

What were you doing as an 18-year-old?Ìý