“She annihilated me, and I cried in my dad’s arms for the rest of the day. I didn’t talk to her for a week”: Victoria Mboko learned the hard way facing older siblings

Victoria Mboko still can’t believe what happened at the Canadian Open, where she won her first WTA 1000 title after receiving a wild card from the tournament organizers. The 18-year-old player started the season as world No. 337, but after a stellar campaign in ITF tournaments at the beginning of the year, she climbed the rankings in a meteoric rise.

The player born in 2006 quickly made a name for herself among the best. She overcame the qualifying rounds at the Rome Open and gave a strong battle to Coco Gauff—the eventual tournament champion—before reaching her first WTA 125 final at the Parma Ladies Open, where she fell to experienced Egyptian Mayar Sherif.

Mboko's ascent continued in the following weeks. She qualified for the French Open and advanced to the third round, where she fell to 2024 Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen in straight sets. A month later at Wimbledon, she again navigated the qualifiers to reach the second round, losing to Hailey Baptiste.

However, her biggest impact came at the WTA 1000 Canadian Open—her third main draw appearance at this level. On her way to the final, she defeated three Grand Slam champions: Sofia Kenin (23rd), Coco Gauff (1st), and Elena Rybakina (9th)—the latter in a third-set tiebreak—setting up a final with four-time major champion Naomi Osaka.

Osaka’s experience mattered little. Mboko came back from a set down to secure the most important victory of her career by 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, claiming her first professional title. She earned a 1,000-point boost in the WTA rankings, climbing from her first top-100 appearance in early June to the top-25 in less than two months.

In a recent episode of the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Mboko reflected on the win. “Yeah, I’m doing great. A lot has happened in the past week, but I’ve been focused on the next tournaments. I got to celebrate a little, but I had to lock in pretty fast and early. After all of that, I feel good and pretty happy with myself,” she said.

Her physical preparation was also key. “I played seven matches, which was a lot—probably the most I’ve ever played in a tournament. Towards the end, I was physically and mentally tired, but I was so happy just to be playing a 1000-level event and competing against these players. I wanted to match whatever they were producing. Even when I was down match points or sets, I fought until the last point,” Mboko explained.

Her mental strength, remarkable for someone about to turn 19, impressed fans and commentators alike. “Honestly, in those moments, I’m really nervous and tight. I try not to think too much and just stay ‘numb’ up here. When I pretend I don’t care, I play better. But if I let the nerves catch up to me, nothing comes out of my racket, and I don’t move well. In tight games, like when I’m down match points, I try not to think at all and just go out and swing,” she shared.

The support of Canadian fans made a difference. “Playing in the main draw was such a huge deal, and I was so thankful just to be there. From my first match, seeing people clapping and supporting me warmed my heart and helped me in tight moments. More and more spectators came as the tournament went on, with posters and slogans cheering me on. Those moments really made me happy, and the stadium cheering at the end of every match was incredible—it made my whole week,” Mboko said.

She also revealed a personal side: growing up with three older siblings and competing against them. “Once, in an academy tournament, I played my sister, and she let me choose the type of ball and court surface. She annihilated me, and I cried in my dad’s arms for the rest of the day. I didn’t talk to her for a week,” she recalled with a laugh.

Despite the triumph, Mboko has also had to navigate injuries. “The wrist issue happened in the semifinals against Elena. It hurt a lot, but I taped it and finished the match. On the morning of the final, it felt off, so we did an MRI and x-ray to make sure nothing serious. Thankfully, it was just inflammation and swelling. With rehab and treatment, it’s improving. I’m focused on being ready for the US Open,” she said.

Her coaching team has been integral to her development. “I’ve been with Tennis Canada since I was 13 or 14. Natalie Tozgat was assigned to me at the start of this year, and I’ve been traveling with her since. She knows me well—what I like and don’t like on and off court. She played professionally, so she understands the tour and guides me comfortably. I really enjoy working with her,” Mboko noted.

With her meteoric rise, Mboko will be the 22nd seed at the US Open, benefiting from the absence of Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa due to injuries. This seeding allows her to avoid top-32 opponents until a potential third round. "Honestly if you would have told me a year ago, I was going to be direct acceptance into the main draw of the US Open I would have told you you're crazy. But I'm super excited. I think I'll even be seeded which is insane to think about," she continued.

“Of course, it’s a different approach, because you already know that you’re in the draw so you have a more clear schedule of what things are going to look like this week. So yeah, I’m heading to New York on Tuesday and I think I have a lot more time to prepare as well,” she said.

“I’m really excited first of all. I want to have as much fun as possible, and it’s my first time also playing the main draw in the US Open on the WTA Tour, so that’s a really new experience for me. So I think along the way I’m just going to ease into it. It’s a really great opportunity so I just want to capitalize as much as I can and honestly just have as much fun as possible.”

Mboko decided not to participate in the Cincinnati Open due to her long campaign in Montreal, but all eyes are now on her debut as a seeded player at Flushing Meadows. With the win in Canada and her rapid ascent in the rankings, the teen sensation has firmly established herself as the new star of the WTA, currently sitting at No. 24 in the live rankings—one of only five players under 20 in the top-100.

Mboko quickly became the new star of the WTA and is currently ranked No. 24. There are only five players under 20 in the top-100, led by world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, with Mboko being the second—currently at No. 23 in the live ranking.