Naomi Osaka skips congratulating Victoria Mboko after Montreal loss [VIDEO]
Naomi Osaka Receives Backlash After Not Congratulating Victoria Mboko In Her Speech, Following Loss in Montreal Final
Naomi Osaka’s emotional runner-up speech at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal has set social media ablaze — and not just for the tears. After losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to 18-year-old Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko, Osaka took the microphone to thank her team, ball kids, organizers, and volunteers. But one thing was missing: she didn’t congratulate Mboko.
In the now-viral 32-second clip posted by @TheTennisLetter on X (formerly Twitter), Osaka’s voice cracked as she wiped her face and looked down at the podium. “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,” she said.
The crowd applauded politely, but many watching noticed the omission. Within hours, the clip had racked up over 74,000 likes, 2,800 reposts, and 1,500 replies — with a flood of criticism accusing Osaka of poor sportsmanship.
How the Montreal Final Unfolded
This was no ordinary loss for Osaka. Ranked No. 36 entering the tournament, the four-time Grand Slam champion had reached her first WTA 1000 final since returning from maternity leave in 2024. She came out firing, dominating the first set in just 30 minutes with booming serves and pinpoint groundstrokes.
But Mboko, who entered the event ranked No. 298 and playing through a wrist injury from her semifinal, found her rhythm in the second set. She improved her return game, forced Osaka into errors (38 unforced in total), and rode the energy of a pro-Canadian crowd. In the decider, Mboko broke early and never looked back, sealing the biggest win of her young career in just over two hours.
Social Media Reacts: Split Between Criticism and Sympathy
The conversation on X was fast and fierce. About 45% of posts skewed critical. As a result, users like @bebem00m00 are writing, “That was disappointing… not even acknowledging Mboko in her speech? That’s poor form.” Others called it “classless” and compared it to past controversies in tennis.
User @dougwc1 posted multiple times about the moment, at one point declaring, “Osaka has now taken sore losing to its highest level… offered ZERO graciousness.”
But about 35% of posts were sympathetic, defending Osaka and urging compassion. @backhandology_ said, “I’m truly sad if you guys are rude to Naomi Osaka who probably just logged off and did a panic attack… It’s an awful feeling.”
Another supporter, @sloaneosaka, reminded followers, “Pls try to be compassionate… Naomi was not in the right mental state.”
The remaining 20% focused on celebrating Mboko’s fairy-tale run. Official accounts like @WTA posted, “VICKY MBOKO MONTREAL CHAMPION … completes an incredible run.” The @Olympics account echoed the excitement, noting that she had “catapulted herself all the way up to No. 24.”
Osaka Addresses the Oversight in Press Conference
Hours later, Osaka faced the press and acknowledged what fans had been pointing out all day. “I completely forgot to congratulate her on the court… I think Victoria played really well. She did really amazing,” she said.
She also reflected on her emotional state, revealing that she had felt grateful earlier in the day but struggled during the match, particularly with the crowd’s vocal support for Mboko. The boos and cheers during her errors appeared to wear her down mentally.
Mboko’s Historic Victory and Meteoric Rise
For Mboko, this was the kind of breakthrough most players only dream about. The Toronto native became the first Canadian woman to win the singles title in Montreal history. Thus, defeating four former Grand Slam champions — Elina Svitolina, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Daria Kasatkina, and Osaka — along the way.
Her win came with a $1.2 million paycheck and a historic leap in the rankings, from No. 298 to No. 24, making her the fifth-youngest champion in tournament history.
Canadian media has hailed it as the “best tennis story of 2025,” with many calling it the start of a generational shift in women’s tennis.
The Bigger Picture: Athlete Mental Health Under the Spotlight
This moment also brought Osaka’s long-documented mental health journey back into focus. Since her 2021 French Open withdrawal, when she revealed she had been battling depression and anxiety, she has become one of the most prominent voices in advocating for athlete mental health.
That same year, the U.S. Tennis Association expanded mental health services at the US Open, partly in response to Osaka’s candor. But her latest high-profile moment — a runner-up speech under heavy scrutiny — shows how the pressure of the sport and public expectations can collide.
While criticism for the lack of congratulations dominated initial reactions, supportive voices gained traction as her press conference apology circulated. For many, it was a reminder that even seasoned champions can have moments where emotion overtakes etiquette.
Conclusion
The Montreal final will be remembered for two things: Victoria Mboko’s historic breakthrough and Naomi Osaka’s emotional runner-up moment that sparked widespread debate. While Mboko’s victory cements her as one of tennis’s most exciting young stars, Osaka’s brief but controversial speech is a reminder of how quickly narratives can shift in the public eye.
In the end, both players leave Montreal with defining storylines — one of triumph against the odds, and one of navigating the fine line between vulnerability and sportsmanship. As the tennis world turns its focus toward the US Open, all eyes will be on whether Mboko can build on her meteoric rise and whether Osaka can bounce back, both on and off the court.
Despite Osaka coming back to clean up her oversight, there are still those who are now calling for her retirement.
Key Takeaway: Mboko’s win may have been the story of the tournament, but Osaka’s 32 seconds at the microphone ensured she was still at the center of the conversation. As the US Open approaches, both players will face new kinds of pressure — Mboko as a rising star, and Osaka as a champion still navigating the balance between personal well-being and public expectation.