"When I first started playing these kinds of tournaments, I used to feel a bit awkward": Victoria Mboko adapting to new found status at Australian Open

Victoria Mboko began her 2026 Australian Open campaign with a composed 6–4, 6–1 victory over Australian rising star Emerson Jones, shaking off early nerves and adapting quickly to conditions at Melbourne Park.

The Canadian, who arrived in Melbourne off the back of a deep run in Adelaide, said her focus from the outset was on staying mentally sharp and managing the emotions that come with opening-round matches at a Grand Slam.

“Emerson is really young and a very talented girl,” Mboko said in her press conference. “I thought it was just important for me to stay locked in from the beginning of the match. I’m glad I got it done and kind of got the first-match nerves out of the way, and now I’m ready to continue.”

With a quick turnaround following her Adelaide final, Mboko admitted she was relieved to have an extra day to recover before stepping on court.

“When I got the news that I was playing on Monday, I was like, yeah, at least that’s better than Sunday,” she said. “I was glad that I got one day to rest. I got to hit on Sunday when I got here, so it was nice to get used to the courts. I felt pretty good on court today — I didn’t feel super tired.”

Rather than treating Melbourne as a reset, Mboko approached the Australian Open as a continuation of her recent form.

“Mentally, I just wanted to put it in my head that it’s a continuation of the tournament and not really think too much about having to start a brand-new week and brand-new everything,” she explained. “I just wanted to think that way and roll with it.”

Adjusting to the conditions was one of the main challenges early on, with Mboko noting a clear difference between the courts in Adelaide and Melbourne.

“I felt the courts here are a lot faster than the ones in Adelaide — that’s my personal feeling,” she said. “In Adelaide we were always playing with the roof, so trying to adapt to the sun and everything is a bit different for me. At the beginning of the match, I was struggling a bit to find my rhythm and my footing, but it’s good that I got this match to help me get used to it.”

Mboko’s backhand was a standout feature of the performance, though she said its development wasn’t something she consciously tracked growing up.

“I don’t really know when I realised my backhand was more solid,” she admitted. “As a junior, I used to struggle a lot with confidence on my forehand. When you feel like you have one side that’s a bit weaker than the other, you tend to rely on the stronger side more. Subconsciously, you’re improving it because you feel more confident on that side. It’s a nice compliment though.”

Off court, Mboko spoke about becoming more comfortable with the unique environment of professional tennis, including sharing locker rooms with opponents.

“When I first started playing these kinds of tournaments, I used to feel a bit awkward,” she said. “But as I play more tournaments, see people more regularly and make more friends, I feel comfortable regardless of whether I see friends or people I’ve played against. It’s pretty normal for me now.”

The scale of the Australian Open also left an impression, particularly after she spotted a banner featuring her face around the grounds.

“One of my coaches pointed it out to me,” Mboko said. “I thought that was pretty cool. Being at the Australian Open and having a banner of my face up there was something I wasn’t expecting at all, but it’s really nice to see — especially seeing the other faces on there with me.”

Playing in front of packed crowds was another highlight, as the tournament continues to break attendance records.

“This is actually my first time really seeing the whole grounds,” Mboko said. “When I was here as a junior, we only saw the NTC part. It’s pretty big, and it’s really nice seeing so many people coming to the matches. My stadium was pretty packed. I know I played an Aussie, but seeing Canadians in there as well, and Australians supporting their player, was really nice to see.”

Mboko will next face American Caty McNally in the second round, looking to build on a confident opening performance and continue her momentum in Melbourne.