Osaka has made progress since returning in last year's Australian Open. She won two matches in both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, has earned $725,727 in prize money and reached the No. 49 spot in the WTA rankings, with a higher ranking likely on the way by making the final.

Mboko came from a set down to oust the 2022 Wimbledon champion in a three-setter that ebbed and flowed to the end.

Victoria Mboko didn’t even have a picture on the WTA website before the National Bank Open in Montreal. Now, the 18-year-old is set to face Naomi Osaka in the first WTA final of her career.