In one of the most memorable moments of the Montreal Open so far, 18-year-old Victoria Mboko pulled off the biggest win of her young career, defeating World No. 3 Coco Gauff. It was her first win over a top 10 players.
When the final point was played, Mboko dropped her racket, covered her face in disbelief, and let the cheers from the Canadian fans wash over her.
As expected, the crowd erupted in celebration as the teenage star embraced Gauff at the net with a warm hug.
Later, in her post-match press conference, Mboko was asked about an unusual number of unforced errors made by Coco Gauff. When a reporter asked what went through her mind as the young talent began to struggle with consistency early on, Mboko responded with utmost maturity.
“Well, I mean, nothing really crosses my mind just because, I mean, that’s the game,” she said. “People make errors. It happens. I make errors too.”
Rather than letting Gauff’s mistakes affect her mindset, Mboko kept her focus tight. “I was just really focused on myself and what I had to do,” she added. “I didn’t really focus as much on what she was doing in the match because I just wanted to play as solid of a game as I possibly could. I just wanted to do what I was supposed to do in the match and hope for the best.”
Well, it seems like, the mindset clearly paid off. Mboko played with fearless precision. Her movement, and ability to hold her nerve under pressure marked her as a player to watch—not just for this tournament, but for the future of tennis.
At just 18, Mboko now has a statement win on one of the sport’s biggest stages. If Montreal was any indication, Victoria Mboko is not just a local favorite anymore, she’s a rising star.