"If I’d told myself at the beginning of the year that I’d be No. 18 in the world? Heck no, absolutely not!": Victoria Mboko in disbelief at breakout season

After a season that pushed her body, mind, and schedule to new limits, Canada’s rising star Victoria Mboko is finally getting a chance to breathe. Fresh off a 76-match campaign that vaulted her from world No. 333 to No. 18 in under twelve months, Mboko sat down with Match Point Canada to reflect on her remarkable 2026 season — a year that transformed her from promising junior and an ITF leader into a bona fide WTA contender.

“It feels good to be healthy, most of all,” she said to Match Point Canada, describing her first true offseason in years. “I didn’t see my tennis bag for a little bit when I came home. My time off was really nice and relaxed.”

It’s well deserved. Mboko’s ascent has been one of the most stunning of the season: two WTA titles, a signature run in Montreal, and competitive battles with the sport’s elite. But to her, success wasn’t something she foresaw — especially not at this scale.

“If I’d told myself at the beginning of the year that I’d be No. 18 in the world? Heck no, absolutely not!” she laughed. “This was my first year playing a full schedule. Seeing my ranking go up slowly was really nice. I can take this year as a learning opportunity — I’m still growing as a player and a person.”

The moment Mboko realized she belonged with the tour’s best didn’t come during a win — but a loss. Her epic three-set duel with former world No. 2 Paula Badosa in Miami served as a turning point. “That was probably one of the best matches I played,” Mboko said. “Being able to stay with her gave me a lot of self-confidence. You always think the WTA level is so far away, but that day I showed what I could do.”

It was the first hint that something special was building.

What happened months later in Montreal turned that hint into certainty. Playing on home soil, Mboko carved through a murderer’s row of former Grand Slam champions — Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka — often from a set down. The run became one of the defining storylines of the North American summer.

“Going into Montreal, I honestly just wanted to win one or two matches at home,” she admitted. “When I lost first sets, I didn’t think too much. I’d just tell myself, ‘Regroup. You’ll find the solution.’ The crowd helped so much. The rest is history.”

History indeed: the teenager became the youngest Canadian champion in tournament history, capturing the nation’s attention overnight.

Success, however, brought new pressures — and physical challenges. Wrist pain forced Mboko out of Cincinnati and left her less than 100% heading into the US Open and Beijing.

“Looking back, I wish I’d taken more time off,” she reflected. “But I was so eager to play my first US Open. I learned you really have to listen to your body.”

She also discovered what it means to be a target as she barely won a game between her triumph and her latter year run which also saw her crowned Hong Kong champion. “After a big win, you become the prey instead of the predator,” she said. “But I didn’t care much. It’s my first year. You’ll have good and bad moments, it’s how you bounce back that matters.”

Crucial to Mboko’s resilience has been her coach, former Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat, who has known her since her junior days.

“She’s very calm and brings that calmness onto the court,” Mboko said. “When I look at my box, I feel relaxed. She says the right things at the right times.”

That stability became especially important during tense moments — including Mboko’s second title run in Hong Kong, capped by a dramatic three-hour final against Cristina Bucșa.

“I wanted it badly,” she said. “I had leads and chances, but she kept coming back. I stayed calm, reminded myself, ‘You’re in the final, just play.’”

Her Hong Kong journey also featured a semifinal against compatriot Leylah Fernandez — a matchup that felt “awkward,” at least until the first ball was struck.

“Off court it’s awkward,” Mboko admitted. “But once the match begins, I don’t care who’s on the other side. Leylah’s an incredible fighter. I knew I had to bring my A-game.”

Now back in Montreal for preseason training, Mboko knows what awaits her: intense fitness work, testing, and the grind of preparing for Australia. “I know at some point it’s going to be pretty brutal,” she laughed. “Not happy about that, but that’s life!”

She’ll begin her season at the United Cup, her first time playing the mixed team event. “I generally like team events more,” she said. “You don’t feel alone. You always have your little corner cheering for you. I’m pumped.”

Fans peppered her with questions, and one theme emerged: how does a breakout star plan her next steps?

Mboko insists she doesn’t believe in setting rigid goals. “You never know what’ll happen. But it’d be nice to go far in a Grand Slam — get the two-week experience, play some top players.”

She’s clear-eyed about what she must improve. “Movement,” she said without hesitation. “When I’m moving well, everything comes clean off my racquet.”

She also plans to return to doubles, which she played frequently as a junior, to sharpen her net skills. Her role models remain close to home — and court. “On court, Serena Williams. Off the court, my sister and all my siblings. They got me into tennis.”

As for music? One constant during her Cinderella run: “A lot of Bruno Mars.”

Victoria Mboko’s season wasn’t just a breakout — it was a statement. A fearless playing style, a grounded personality, and a hunger to improve fueled one of the most impressive ascents of any young player on the WTA Tour.

Still, Mboko sees herself at the beginning of the journey, not the peak. "I’m still growing,” she said. “This year showed me what I can do. There’s so much more ahead.”