Thunder Bay's tennis community is a growing one, thanks in part to the on-court achivements of Canadian pros like Victoria Mboko, the director of the city's tennis centre said.

Victoria Mboko had begun Thursday with a swollen, stiff wrist that concerned her enough to visit the hospital for an MRI. The 18-year-old ended that same day hoisting the National Bank Open trophy and savouring the best night of her young tennis life.

Mboko has played so much tennis this season for one reason — because she wins and wins and wins some more. She’s just doing it on ever-bigger stages. 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.