Osaka Acknowledges Oversight After Mboko Match

Naomi Osaka has recognized her error in neglecting to congratulate Victoria Mboko during the on-court interview following their match.

Teenage wildcard Mboko mounted an impressive comeback in Montreal, overcoming four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. This victory marked her inaugural WTA Tour title at the Canadian Open on Thursday.

The 18-year-old Canadian experienced an unsteady beginning, conceding the initial set 2-6 as Osaka asserted dominance in the early stages.

However, Mboko rallied in the subsequent set, discovering her rhythm and ultimately surpassing the Japanese athlete to secure a defining triumph in her career.

The issue arose after the match when Naomi Osaka failed to acknowledge Victoria Mboko’s victory during the post-match speech.

Osaka, visibly emotional, delivered a concise speech, omitting any mention of the Canadian teenager’s remarkable performance.

“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 stated.

Following her speech, Osaka faced criticism from online fans due to the omission of Mboko’s name.

The Japanese tennis star swiftly acknowledged the blunder and responded to the disapproval.

Forgoing a formal press conference, Osaka addressed the situation by issuing written statements to journalists, which included words of praise for Mboko.

“This morning, I was very grateful,” she remarked.

“I don’t know why my emotions slipped so quickly, but I’m really happy to have played the final.

“I think Victoria played really well. I completely forgot to congratulate her on court. Yeah, she did really amazing.”