On July 7, 2026, Canadian tennis professional Victoria Mboko announced she would not compete in the National Bank Open in Toronto after a knee injury forced her to pull out of the women's title defence. The decision was confirmed by Tennis Canada, which said the injury prevents her from taking the court this week.
The National Bank Open is a WTA tournament held annually in Toronto and forms part of the summer hard‑court swing that leads into the US Open. The event typically draws a strong field of international players, and Mboko entered the week as the defending champion, expected to start her campaign in the opening rounds.
Tennis Canada released a brief statement confirming that the injury was identified during practice earlier in the week and that Mboko will now focus on treatment and rehabilitation. While the organization expressed disappointment at losing the defending champion, it emphasized that the athlete’s health must come first.
Mboko’s withdrawal reshapes the women’s draw, removing a seeded player and opening the section of the bracket where she would have been placed. Other competitors now have an adjusted path to the later stages, and tournament officials will re‑seed the draw in accordance with WTA regulations.
Fans who had hoped to see the home‑grown champion compete on Canadian soil will miss the chance to watch her on the Centre Court. Nevertheless, the tournament will continue as scheduled, with organizers making the necessary adjustments to the match lineup.
The situation highlights the physical toll of the professional circuit, where injuries can arise during the demanding summer schedule. No specific timeline for Mboko’s return has been disclosed, but she and her team indicated they will monitor her progress closely before planning a comeback.
Despite the setback, the National Bank Open will proceed with its full complement of singles and doubles events, and the women’s field will vie for the title, ensuring a new champion will emerge this year.