Naomi Osaka incredibly snubs Victoria Mboko in brief runners-up speech after losing the Canadian Open final

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Naomi Osaka’s dream week in Montreal didn’t quite have the fairy tale ending she was hoping for.

The Japanese star began the week as a rank outsider to win the tournament, but Osaka quickly reminded fans why she is a four-time Grand Slam champion.

Taking down the likes of Jelena Ostapenko and Clara Tauson, Osaka qualified for the final, where she met Canada’s Victoria Mboko.

Osaka stormed into an early lead in Montreal, taking the first set 6-2 against the nervous teenager.

However, Osaka’s level soon dropped, as Mboko battled back to secure the win in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, lifting her first career WTA title.

The 27-year-old’s body language was poor for much of the second and third sets, indicating she wasn’t happy with how things were going.

However, despite that, few would’ve predicted what Osaka decided to do during her post-match speech.

Naomi Osaka didn’t acknowledge Victoria Mboko in her runners-up speech

When giving a runners-up speech, it is expected that both players congratulate each other and their teams before thanking the event staff and organizers.

Osaka shockingly skipped one key part of her speech after losing to Mboko, which was certainly out of character for the likeable star.

“I don’t really want to take up too much time, so I will just say thank you to everyone,” she said.

“Thank you to my team, and the ball kids, and the organisers, and the volunteers.

“I hope you guys had a good night.”

Osaka didn’t mention Mboko at all in her speech, a surprising development to say the least.

Perhaps Osaka was frustrated with the crowd support Mboko received during the final, but to not acknowledge the teenager winning her first tour-level title seems harsh regardless.

Her opponent, on the other hand, did take the time to congratulate Osaka, as she took in the applause from the crowd on Montreal’s Centre Court.

Victoria Mboko thanks Naomi Osaka for an ‘incredible match’

During her champion’s speech, Mboko thanked her more-experienced opponent for playing her part in a thrilling final.

“I want to thank Naomi [Osaka] for an incredible match,” she said.

“I have always looked up to her when I was really little, so it’s always great to play with such an amazing player like you.”

For all the conversations that will no doubt emerge from their respective speeches, the entertainment the final provided shouldn’t be forgotten.

Both competitors played their part in a thrilling encounter, which in the end was won by the more clinical of the two players.

Converting eight of her nine break points, Mboko sealed the win in three sets.

Now a WTA 1000 champion for the first time in her career, Mboko will surely have her sights set on bigger goals before too long.

The talented teenager is set to jump to 25th in the Live WTA Rankings, meaning she will be seeded for the US Open later this month.

Avoiding the top players in the first and second rounds, Mboko will have a good chance of making some noise on her tournament debut.

Having only appeared at two Grand Slams in her career to date, Mboko holds a 3-2 record (3R French Open 2025, 2R Wimbledon 2025).

Only time will tell if she can improve upon her record in New York, but if she plays like she did in Montreal, you certainly won’t want to bet against her.

The 2025 US Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 24.