No turning back now: Victoria Mboko keeps climbing higher
At the beginning of 2025, Victoria Mboko kicked off her year by participating in a modest tournament held in Martinique, France. Ranked No. 333 globally, she impressively won all five of her matches, earning herself a total of $3,935 in prize money.
"I didn’t really have high expectations for myself," she shared with wtatennis.com on Monday while in Adelaide. "My primary goal at the start was simply to qualify for the Grand Slam tournaments.
"Of course, I somewhat surpassed my own expectations."
Somewhat?
On Tuesday, Mboko made an impressive leap into the quarterfinals of the Adelaide International, triumphing over Anna Kalinskaya with a nail-biting score of 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (6). In a match that lasted nearly two and a half hours, she saved two match points. Next up, she’s set to face the winner of the match between Madison Keys, the No. 2 seed and reigning Australian Open champion, and qualifier Tereza Valentova.
This marks yet another significant milestone for the promising 19-year-old Canadian tennis player.
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Not only did Mboko manage to qualify for last year’s Roland Garros, but she also advanced past two rounds in the main draw. She successfully navigated the qualifying rounds at Wimbledon too, winning her opening match there as well. By the time the US Open rolled around, she had climbed into the Top 25 and earned a seed in the main event.
In a stunningly rapid ascent over the past ten months, Mboko secured the WTA 1000 title in Montreal—right in her home country—and capped off her season as the champion in Hong Kong. Remarkably, she concluded the year sitting at an astounding No. 18 in the rankings.
Along with fellow 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva, Mboko stands as one of the sole teenagers in the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz Top 25.
Interestingly, instead of reflecting on her newfound success, Mboko is focused on future challenges. During a candid and extensive conversation, she demonstrated a level of maturity that belies her age.
"It’s always great to head into your break on a positive note," she said. "That really helped me mentally. I’ve kind of put it behind me. It’s in the past, and I don’t think it’s particularly relevant to carry that into other events.
"I view each new week as another chance to excel."
Mboko's journey to the upper echelons of professional tennis has been anything but typical. Her parents, Cyprien Mboko and Godee Kitadi, immigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Victoria, the youngest of four siblings, was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. The family relocated to Toronto when she was just two months old.
Her sister Grace and brother Kevin both played college tennis, and Victoria picked up a racquet at the tender age of four.
The Montreal title was particularly noteworthy due to her remarkable victories over Grand Slam champions such as Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and ultimately, Naomi Osaka in the finals. Reflecting on that incredible run, Mboko acknowledged how it shifted perceptions about her, including her own.
"Honestly, I aimed to win one or two rounds going into that tournament," she recalled. "But the overwhelming support from the country and the fans really motivated me. I had so much fun that those two weeks flew by. It all happened so fast.
"I started to get recognized more often in everyday places like grocery stores. So many changes are happening in my life because I'm at a different stage—I just need to adapt."
During her offseason, Mboko concentrated on enhancing her strength and building endurance. All four of her matches this year have gone to full sets, and she has triumphed in three of them, including a victory against China’s Zhu Lin in the United Cup and a comeback win over Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first round in Adelaide, which ended with scores of 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
She is very conscious of the experience gap she faces on the court.
"Most of the time, my opponents are older than me," she noted. "I feel like I constantly have to elevate my level of play to compete with the more experienced players and keep pace with their physicality and strength. Regardless of how many points I need to defend, there's always an opportunity to regain them in subsequent weeks, so I try not to dwell on that."
Mboko was honored as the WTA’s Newcomer of the Year, joining a prestigious lineage of early achievers. Notable names from past years include Tracy Austin (1977), Martina Hingis (1995), Venus and Serena Williams (1997 and 1998), Petra Kvitova (2010), Aryna Sabalenka (2018), and Mirra Andreeva (2023).
"I feel a connection to the history of those who have received that award, so it’s incredibly thrilling," she expressed. "Holding that title or platform comes with significant responsibility, and I aim to maintain consistency this year.
"If you feel pressure, then it indicates you’re doing something right. People see you as a player they want to challenge and beat. Therefore, I think it’s essential for me to stay grounded and keep my spirits high, no matter what."
