Osaka has made some 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 so far and reached the No. 49 spot in the WTA rankings, with a higher ranking likely on the way by making the final.

Mboko has played so much tennis this season for one reason — because she wins and wins and wins some more. She is 53-9 at all levels this season. That is a ton of winning. In addition to Osaka and Rybakina, she beat world No. 2 Coco Gauff and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin on the way to the title.

Naomi Osaka reacts to playing Victoria Mboko in the final of the National Bank Open after Mboko called Osaka her "idol" years back.