World No. 12 Elena Rybakina is gearing up for a potentially tricky clash with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. The two met just last week in Washington, and while Rybakina came out on top, she knows she can’t afford to take her young opponent lightly.
“She’s dangerous,” Rybakina said in her post-match press conference. “She has nothing to lose, and I’m sure she’s enjoying out there.”
The 18-year-old Mboko, currently outside the top 200, has been one of the surprises of the tournament so far. With the energy of a home crowd behind her, she’s showing signs of the kind of player who can punch well above her ranking.
Interestingly enough, Rybakina noted the challenges of their previous encounter. “Yeah, she’s a tough opponent,” she said. “She has really good strokes, and she plays fast. She has a really good serve. In Washington, it was also a bit difficult for both of us since it was a night match and the conditions were very different. Now we are playing here, and it’s more consistent, I would say.”
While Rybakina brings the experience of a Grand Slam champion and the passion of a top-five player, she knows the danger of facing someone with nothing to lose. Well, especially in front of a crowd eager to see their young talent succeed.
When asked if she enjoys these types of matches, where she’s not just playing an opponent, but also facing a stadium full of fans cheering for her opponent, Elena Rybakina smiled.
“Well, of course, I understand that a lot of people will cheer for her, and she’s young,” she said. “As I said, she has nothing to lose. So it is dangerous, I would say.”
Her game plan? Keep it simple and focus on what she can control. “I will just try to focus on myself, on my serve especially,” she added. “Because I know if it’s really working, then I have much more chances. So that’s going to be the goal.”
With her powerful game and calm mindset, Rybakina will step onto the court as the favorite. A focused approach and sharp serving could be the keys to keeping her Montreal campaign on track.
For now, Rybakina’s respect for her opponent is clear. She’s not underestimating Mboko and is ready for whatever the crowd and the moment bring in for her.
