Osaka has made progress since returning in last year's Australian Open. She won two matches in both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, has earned $725,727 in prize money and reached the No. 49 spot in the WTA rankings, with a higher ranking likely on the way by making the final.

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.

After celebrating her come-from-behind, 2-6 6-4 6-1 win over the Japanese star, Mboko ran to hug her family and coaches in their courtside box as the crowd went wild. But while Mboko was overjoyed, her opponent in the final was notably less than enthused.