Montreal Women's Singles Final: The Most "Surprising" Match of the Season

After Naomi Osaka and Mbogu met in the Montreal 1000 tournament final, a highly discussed topic quickly emerged in public discourse: this is the most "surprising" women's singles final of the season!

This "surprising" is not what you might think! It's not that this year's Montreal had a scandalous officiating situation that left everyone outraged, so please don't misunderstand!

Both Naomi Osaka and Mbogu are Black players who overcame various strong opponents on their path to the final, ultimately meeting in the Montreal showdown. Such a matchup between players of the same skin color in a final is probably a first in this season's women's singles finals.

Referring to this Montreal 1000 tournament final as "surprising" has another reason: the fact that Osaka and Mbogu became the final contenders for the championship was probably something no one had anticipated before the tournament. With these two dark horses meeting in the final, and sharing the same skin color, saying that the Montreal women's singles final is the most "surprising" of the season is certainly not an exaggeration.

Currently, the focus of public attention regarding this ultimate battle for the women's singles championship is: who will lift the trophy, Naomi Osaka or Mbogu?

This 1000 tournament women's singles championship match presents equal motivation for both Naomi Osaka and Mbogu.

The Japanese player has not reached any 1000 tournament final since her defeat to Swiatek in the Miami 1000 final in 2022. Now, returning to the 1000 tournament final stage after three years means a lot to Naomi Osaka.

Additionally, ever since her return after giving birth, although Naomi Osaka’s ambition has never faded, the harsh realities have continuously battered her, leaving the Japanese player quite bruised. Now, she finally has the opportunity to prove herself and to declare her resurgence with a 1000 tournament championship. I believe Naomi Osaka will not miss this chance. Furthermore, if this championship can end her four-year title drought, as one netizen put it, "the Oriental flower will definitely exert all her strength; if she can deliver a defeat to Mbogu, she won't hold back at all."

Similarly, Mbogu is also very eager for this opportunity.

Before reaching the Montreal 1000 tournament final, the 18-year-old Canadian had never made it to any tour final. If she can win her first tour final at a 1000 event, it would not only fulfill her reputation as a genius girl but also, for her fans, a 1000 tournament title as her first career championship would be something to boast about for years.

Some say that another famous young talent in tennis, Coco Gauff, was dubbed the successor to Serena Williams right from her debut, but her first career title didn't reach such heights; it was just a 250 tournament championship. "If Mbogu can achieve this, and then maintain stable performance, next year’s women’s tennis will definitely see a shift in power, and who ultimately prevails will likely depend on the performance of the Canadian girl."

However, when it comes to who will lift this important championship trophy, the Canadian girl is not widely favored by the public.

Although Mbogu's performance in defeating Rybakina in the semifinals was commendable, many believe there was an element of luck involved. If the former Wimbledon champion maintains her form without significant fluctuations, and the match becomes tightly contested, whether the Canadian girl can emerge victorious is still a big question mark.

Naomi Osaka, on the other hand, has consistently demonstrated the strength of a four-time Grand Slam champion, whether defeating Svitolina or eliminating Townsend. She has maintained a sufficient level of stability, especially being able to elevate her performance in crucial moments, which is one of the main reasons why Naomi Osaka is favored.

Moreover, in terms of experience, Mbogu is also far behind Naomi Osaka.

As a four-time Grand Slam champion, the Japanese player has seen various big stages, while Mbogu, as a newcomer who has just started her career, is standing on such a large stage for the first time. If she cannot control her nerves, many believe the outcome of the match will quickly lose its suspense.

Another reason why Mbogu is not favored by many is injuries!

When she just reached the final, there were already reports suggesting that she might be dealing with a wrist injury. If this is true, it will certainly affect her performance in the final; combined with her lack of experience compared to the Japanese girl, it adds considerable difficulty for her to overcome Naomi Osaka.

Of course, although current indications suggest that Naomi Osaka is indeed the more favored side, whether this championship will ultimately belong to the Japanese girl will depend on her performance in crucial moments. Furthermore, if Mbogu’s injury is not serious or is just a rumor, and she can maintain stable output in the final as she did on her way to the final, she also has the chance to pull off an upset! This highly anticipated battle will start at 6 AM Beijing time on August 8, and is definitely worth watching!(Source: Tennis Home Author: Moon River's Starry Sky)