Rybakina Says 'Not Nice' Montreal Crowd Didn't Impact Her In Loss To a Teenager

Thursday, 07 August 2025 at 10:15

byErik Virostko

Elena Rybakina lost in the semi-finals of the 2025 Canadian Open, and she didn't have to battle only against her opponent, but also against the crowd in Montreal.

Rybakina's semi-final match was a battle. The match lasted two hours and 46 minutes, and it was decided in the third-set tie-break. The Kazakhstani player had a match point on her serve, but she couldn't use the chance, ultimately losing 6-1, 5-7, 6-7(4).

Her opponent? 18-year-old Victoria Mboko, who so happens to be a Canadian. In fact, the teenager is already so popular in the country that some fans in Toronto watched her match on the screen next to the stadium, instead of watching the men's matches played at the venue.

Rybakina knew that the match wouldn't be easy, and the crowd let her know that from the moment the first ball was hit. The 18-year-old had enormous support, and when the match got to the deciding phases, that support also turned into a bit of disrespect towards Rybakina, as it so often happens when playing against a home player.

The fans celebrated the mistakes of the former Wimbledon champion, even when she missed her first serve. However, speaking after her loss, Rybakina refused to blame it on the crowd, saying that she was ready for such an atmosphere and that the crowd's behavior didn't impact her, even though, of course, having to experience it wasn't nice.

"Yeah, that wasn't nice, of course. I played in a lot of situations where the crowd was supporting the player, but I would say that here it was pretty tough from very beginning. I already felt it from the first game we played, and especially when it's in between the serves."

"It is what it is. This is something I was kind of expecting, and definitely it didn't depend anyhow on my serve or in the mistakes I did or wrong choices. It was obvious that the crowd is going to cheer for their player."

Rybakina heaps praise on 18-year-old Mboko

Only a year ago, not many tennis fans knew Mboko. She is still only 18 years old, and she is already a WTA 1000 finalist, having also beaten the top seed at the event. Rybakina spoke about her opponent after the loss, praising her ability to serve well in crucial moments.

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"I think that she served really well in these important moments. The first serve was going very... For my side I think in these important moments I was going with the second, which of course, not giving me confidence in the rallies since I'm the one who likes to dictate."

"Of course, this is where I was a little bit down. Overall I think it was very close match, like big fight. So it could go any way, but went hers. I think she played also really well."

What's next for Rybakina after her loss in Montreal

Rybakina, like the rest of the players, will now move to Cincinnati, where she will compete in the last WTA 1000 tournament before this year's US Open.

The draw for the Cincinnati Open was already made, and as the ninth seed, the Kazakhstani player will start in the second round, having a first-round bye. Her first opponent will be the winner of the match between Renata Zarazua and Yulia Putintseva.