WATCH: Emotional Naomi Osaka snubs Canadian Open winner Victoria Mboko with blunt response after heartbreaking loss
Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, faced significant backlash after her brief and emotional runners-up speech following a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 loss to 18-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko in the 2025 National Bank Open final in Montreal on August 7, 2025. Osaka, visibly upset, delivered a 45-word speech that omitted any mention or congratulations for Mboko, the first Canadian to win the WTA 1000 title in Montreal in the Open era. “I don’t really wanna take up too much time. I’ll just say thank you to everyone. Thank you to my team, the ball kids, organizers, & volunteers. I hope you guys had a good night,” Osaka said, per The Express US, struggling to hold back tears as she exited the court.
Mboko, in contrast, displayed grace in her champion’s speech, thanking Osaka and acknowledging her admiration: “I want to thank Naomi for an incredible match. I’ve always looked up to her when I was really little. It’s great to play with such an amazing player like you,” she said, per ABC News. The Canadian teenager, ranked No. 85, completed a stunning run, defeating three Grand Slam champions—Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina—before overcoming Osaka, converting eight of nine break points despite a wrist injury that required an MRI earlier that day.
Osaka’s snub drew sharp criticism from fans and commentators on X, with @YoungStreete calling it “bad sport” behavior, and @ChelseaRulezzz labeling it “shameful,” suggesting Osaka’s emotional display indicated she might be reconsidering her career due to sponsorship pressures. @SoaringTennis described her speech as “super lame,” noting, “I know it’s hard to lose like that and play against a crowd that’s fully against you, but not even a congrats to Mboko?” Some fans, like @AndyBorland4, called it “disrespect,” especially given Mboko’s public admiration for Osaka. Others, like @beatingthebook, pointed to Osaka’s poor body language, suggesting she “moped” as Mboko seized momentum with crowd support.
Osaka’s performance mirrored her struggles with hostile crowds, reminiscent of her 2016 US Open loss to Madison Keys, where fan support disrupted her focus. In Montreal, her first-set dominance (6-2) unraveled as Mboko broke her serve eight times in the final two sets, fueled by a raucous IGA Stadium crowd. Her loss extended a title drought since the 2021 Australian Open, despite a strong 2025 run, including wins over Jelena Ostapenko and Clara Tauson.
While Osaka’s emotional state—exacerbated by her return from a 15-month maternity hiatus and inconsistent form—may explain her brevity, the omission of Mboko’s name fueled perceptions of poor sportsmanship. Mboko, set to rise to at least No. 34, withdrew from Cincinnati to recover her wrist, eyeing the US Open, where her Montreal form makes her a dark horse. Osaka’s next steps remain unclear, but the controversy highlights the pressure she faces to regain her top form.
