Naomi Osaka at Age 27: From Father's Blueprint to Montreal Heartbreak

At Naomi Osaka's age of 27, the Japanese star's comeback reached a defining and emotional moment in Montreal, where she lost to 18-year-old Victoria Mboko in a rare all-generations WTA 1000 final. The match, which Mboko won in three sets, marked a symbolic handover between an established Grand Slam champion and one of tennis's most promising new names.

Mboko's breakthrough performance

In front of a home crowd, Mboko delivered a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory to secure her first WTA Tour title, as reported by 7NEWS. The teenager became only the third Canadian woman to win the Montreal event in the Open Era. She joins Faye Urban and Bianca Andreescu. Despite a shaky start, she grew stronger as the match progressed, matching Osaka's pace and countering her power with precision.

The final was the culmination of a remarkable run for the 18-year-old, who began the year ranked outside the top 300. Her journey to the title included victories over reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff, former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, and Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

An emotional runner-up speech

Osaka began her Montreal campaign with dominant wins, defeating Ariana Arseneault, Liudmila Samsonova, Jelena Ostapenko, Anastasija Sevastova, Elina Svitolina and Clara Tauson on her way to the final. However, against Mboko, she struggled to maintain momentum after taking the first set, eventually falling in three.

Following the match, a visibly emotional Osaka delivered a short address that notably omitted any mention of her opponent. As captured by Sportskeeda, she told the crowd: '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, organisers, & volunteers. I hope you guys had a good night'.

Her decision not to directly congratulate Mboko drew attention, given the history between the two players. Mboko has openly said she grew up idolising Osaka.

Career and comeback journey

Osaka's appearance in the Montreal final was her first at the WTA 1000 level since April 2022, before she took a break from tennis to give birth to her daughter Shai. She had previously stepped away from the sport in 2021 to focus on mental health.

The match also followed a recent split from high-profile coach Patrick Mouratoglou, a partnership that began in September 2024. Mouratoglou, best known for his decade-long work with Serena Williams, received a public farewell from Osaka via social media.

Her broader journey has been shaped by a strict early training regime implemented by her father, Leonard François, who modelled his approach on Richard Williams' methods for raising Venus and Serena Williams. In an interview shared by Pro Football Network, Osaka recalled spending up to eight hours a day on court as a child, alongside her sister Mari. She said this upbringing left her feeling she had 'no choice' but to succeed, adding that the system felt like a 'blueprint' for her life.

A generational clash in Montreal

The Montreal final was not just a match but a meeting of tennis eras. Mboko, as detailed by Tennis Up To Date, showcased the aggressive yet composed style typical of the sport's new generation. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, relied on her experience and power in the early stages but could not sustain the pressure as Mboko's consistency grew.

In the final set, Osaka's frustration was visible, with unforced errors creeping in. At one point, she appeared to give up on a rally, only for Mboko to chase down the ball and strike a winner down the line.

What comes next

Despite the defeat, Osaka's performance in Montreal ensures a rise in the WTA rankings and a likely seeding for the upcoming US Open. Mboko will also enter the Grand Slam with new confidence and her highest career ranking to date.

The clash in Montreal leaves open the question of how Naomi Osaka age 27 will shape the next phase of her career, whether her experience, combined with the resilience honed through breaks and comebacks, can see her reclaim top-tier success against a fast-rising generation.