Victoria Mboko: The Canadian tennis talent who can’t stop winning arrives at her home event

On the opening day of the French Open, an 18-year-old Canadian burst onto the global tennis stage by smashing a blistering backhand past a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist. With that stroke, Victoria Mboko earned her first Grand Slam win—and captured the attention of tennis fans around the world.

But those who have been closely watching the women’s tennis circuit knew that Mboko’s meteoric rise wasn’t a fluke. Born in the United States, raised in Canada, and the youngest of four siblings in a Congolese family, Mboko has quietly but steadily carved her name into the future of Canadian tennis. Now, with a breakout run to the third round at Roland Garros and a stunning semifinal showing at the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Montreal, she’s making headlines for all the right reasons.

Calm Under Pressure: A Mental Strategy That Works

Mboko’s secret weapon isn’t just her power-packed groundstrokes or agile footwork—it’s her mindset. In interviews, she’s revealed that one of her strategies is to downplay the magnitude of the moment.

“I tell myself I’m not actually at a Grand Slam,” she explained after defeating New Zealand’s Lulu Sun 6-1, 7-6(4) in Paris. “That helps me ease the pressure and play more freely.”

This imaginative self-talk clearly works. Just days later, she defeated Germany’s rising star Eva Lys in straight sets to advance to the third round. Although her run ended with a loss to Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, Mboko’s performance spoke volumes: this was not a flash in the pan. This was a player ready to contend with the best.

From Burlington to the Big Leagues

Victoria Mboko’s journey began in Burlington, a city near Toronto, where she grew up in a tennis-loving family. The youngest of four siblings, she had early exposure to competitive sports. At just nine years old, she was asked to join a local women’s tournament—one in which her older sister Gracia was competing. Gracia won that match easily, but Victoria left the court acting like she should’ve won. That unwavering self-belief, her sister says, was already evident even then.

“She always had that ‘I’m going to win’ attitude,” Gracia noted. “It’s something you only see in the very top athletes.”

A Family Affair

The Mboko family’s story is one of resilience and sacrifice. Her parents, Cyprien and Godée, emigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo during the mid-1990s to escape the turmoil of the First and Second Congo Wars. Due to visa complications, the family was separated for years, with Godée settling in Montreal and Cyprien working nights in North Carolina.

Eventually, the entire family reunited in Toronto, where Victoria began training seriously. Her father, a retired mechanical engineer, often drove her to practices, and her mother, an accountant, continues to support her from afar. Her brother Kevin, now a coach, and sister Gracia remain her biggest cheerleaders and travel companions.

Climbing the Rankings

In 2024, Victoria Mboko ended the year ranked outside the top 300. But in just a few months, she surged into the top 50 of the WTA rankings—an almost unheard-of leap. Her 2025 season opened with an extraordinary 22-match winning streak on the ITF World Tennis Tour. After a single loss, she rebounded with five more wins at a WTA 125 event in Porto.

She’s now logged an impressive 49-9 win-loss record for the season, with victories across continents—including Rome, Ga., and Rome, Italy. Her next big challenge? Facing 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in front of a hometown crowd in Montreal.

Keeping It Simple

Despite the buzz, Mboko has stayed grounded. She’s a creature of habit, sticking to her routines during tournaments.

“I do the same thing every day,” she explained after her upset victory over world No. 2 Coco Gauff at the Canadian Open. “I’m a little superstitious—I like keeping things simple.”

Her coach, Marko Strillic of Tennis Canada, agrees. “She needs consistency,” he said. “But now, with her rapid rise, we also need to carefully manage her schedule to avoid burnout.”

Learning From Every Loss

Mboko’s first match against Gauff earlier in the season was a loss. But it became a turning point. Gauff, known for her incredible speed and stamina, made the young Canadian work hard for every point. Mboko, gasping for air between rallies, realized she needed to level up her fitness.

“She was crushed,” Gracia recalled. “But it lit a fire in her.”

By the time they met again in Montreal, Mboko had made the adjustments. She took the first set 6-1 and held her nerve as Gauff pushed back in the second. With calm determination, she broke serve at 5-4 to close out the match, sending shockwaves through the tournament.

A Multicultural Success Story

Mboko joins the growing list of Canadian tennis stars with immigrant roots, including Bianca Andreescu, Leylah Fernandez, and Félix Auger-Aliassime. Canada’s embrace of diversity has helped build a robust talent pipeline.

“Tennis Canada is all about inclusivity,” said Andreescu, who now mentors Mboko. “We come from different cultures and backgrounds, but that’s what makes this program strong.”

Big Game, Big Goals

Mboko isn’t just winning matches—she’s also redefining her game. Her mix of power and finesse is rare at her age. She can crack a 120 mph serve and execute delicate slices and drop shots with equal ease. Her coach, former world No. 3 Nathalie Tauziat, has helped hone her variety, making her one of the most complete young players on the tour.

Unsurprisingly, Mboko idolized Serena Williams growing up. And like Serena, she’s proving that aggressive play, self-belief, and mental toughness are a winning formula.

The Road Ahead

For all her success, Mboko remains remarkably unfazed.

“Between matches, I just hang out with my siblings. That keeps me grounded,” she said.

Her daily schedule reflects that no-frills attitude: a 6:45 a.m. wake-up, breakfast, warm-up, and light hitting before matches. No entourages. No distractions. Just family and focus.

Yet, even as she rises, her team knows challenges lie ahead. Managing expectations, preserving her physical health, and staying mentally fresh will be key. But for now, the tennis world is watching—because Victoria Mboko has arrived, and she’s here to stay. stage in the sport.