There was a close local connection to Victoria Mboko’s championship victory at the National Bank Open Thursday in Montreal.

Kayla Cross is the new Canadian tennis star’s doubles partner and ensured she was there in person to congratulate her.

“I was at a tournament in the States and when she made the final, I moved around some plans to fly back up there,” the 20-year-old Londoner said. “It’s something I wanted to be a part of and it was really special to share in her moment.

“I’m so proud of her. I was proud all week of the way she played but, of course, winning the title is next level.”

Cross, who achieved a top 220 ranking in the world this season, lost her opening-round singles match in three sets to Russian Kamilla Rakhimova in Montreal. She and Mboko were bounced in the first roun

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