Victoria Mboko pulls out of Toronto National Bank Open with knee injury

Canada's world No. 10, 19‑year‑old Victoria Mboko announced she will not defend her title at the 2026 National Bank Open in Toronto, scheduled for 2–13 August. She withdrew after suffering a left‑knee medial collateral ligament injury during a WTA 500 match at London's Queen’s Club against Karolina Pliskova.

The injury forces Mboko to miss the event that holds special personal significance for her, and she will forfeit roughly 1,000 ranking points, likely dropping from the top‑10 to around 15‑16 in the WTA rankings. Mboko expressed deep disappointment but remains optimistic about returning to competition.

The absence will be felt by tournament organizers and Canadian fans, as Mboko captured the title in Montreal the previous year as a wildcard, a victory that propelled her into the top 20 and then the top‑10.