Naomi Osaka has stated she is "in shock" after learning that Victoria Mboko considers her an idol. The Japanese star spoke to the microphones after reaching her first WTA 1000 final in three years, where she will face the Canadian teenager in an effort to add a new title to her trophy collection at the Canadian Open.

The four-time Grand Slam champion has not lifted a WTA-level title since 2021 when she was crowned champion of her second Australian Open. It feels like not much time has passed since Osaka dominated the Tour, with two titles in Australia and two others at US Open, in addition to reaching No. 1 for the first time in January 2019, when Mboko was only 12 years old.

Her last appearance in a WTA 1000 final was at the Miami Open in 2022, where she fell to Iga Swiatek, who also gu

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