Canadian Tennis Stars Face Early Exits at 2025 French Open
Leylah, Félix, Shapovalov, and Raonic stumble early—but newcomer Victoria Mboko reaches third round in impressive Grand Slam debut.
PARIS — Canada’s biggest names in tennis faced an early exit from the 2025 French Open, with Félix Auger-Aliassime, Leylah Fernandez, Denis Shapovalov, and Milos Raonic all bowing out before the third round. But 18-year-old Victoria Mboko delivered a breakthrough performance, reaching the third round in her first-ever Grand Slam main draw appearance.
Mboko Shines Bright in Paris
Hailing from Burlington, Ontario, Victoria Mboko emerged as a standout story for Canada in Paris. After powering through the qualifying rounds with wins over Sinja Kraus, Kathinka von Deichmann, and Kaja Juvan, Mboko defeated New Zealand’s Lulu Sun 6-1, 7-6(4) in the first round and followed it up with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Germany’s Eva Lys.
Her dream run ended in the third round with a 6-3, 6-4 loss to world No. 7 Zheng Qinwen, but her composed play and athleticism drew praise from fans and analysts alike. Mboko’s performance is expected to vault her into the WTA Top 100.
Veterans Falter in Early Rounds
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Félix Auger-Aliassime was ousted in the second round by Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after an error-filled five-set match.
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Leylah Fernandez dropped her opening-round match in straight sets to Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova.
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Denis Shapovalov, making his return to clay, was knocked out in four sets by Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.
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Milos Raonic, in his Grand Slam comeback, fell in the first round to French wildcard Hugo Gaston in a late-night five-set thriller.
Looking Ahead
While Canada’s top-ranked players fell short, Mboko’s poised and fearless play at Roland Garros has reignited excitement about the next generation of Canadian tennis. Her success on the clay could signal a new chapter for the nation’s fortunes on the Grand Slam stage.
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