Victoria Mboko kicks off her clay season this week at the Madrid Open, making her debut after recently having her wisdom teeth removed—an unfortunate timing that kept her off the court before the clay swing began.
The talented 19-year-old Canadian tennis sensation arrives in Spain with a world ranking of No. 10, a remarkable jump from No. 156 just a year ago.
Teaming up with Iva Jovic, Mboko is set to face Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund in a round-of-32 doubles match on Wednesday. In singles, she’ll take on the winner of the match between Caty McNally and a qualifier, scheduled for Tuesday, on Thursday.
Hailing from Burlington, Ontario, Mboko was initially slated to represent Canada in the Billie Jean King Cup tie in Kazakhstan as preparation for Madrid. However, she had to undergo the dental procedure after the Miami Open last month.
“I had all four of my wisdom teeth extracted, and I anticipated a tough recovery, so I opted out of several tournaments,” Mboko shared during media day in Madrid.
“It was definitely an experience,” she continued. “I wouldn’t call it positive—lots of tears and soup, but I managed!”
After spending several days recuperating at home, she had limited time to adjust to the clay conditions before traveling to Europe.
With a season record of 19-6, her highlights include reaching the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and Miami. Mboko will start the singles tournament with a first-round bye, despite her limited experience on clay. Last season, she competed in two clay events, making it to the second round in Rome and the third round at the French Open.
“Going into this tournament, I don’t have much clay experience, so I expect to take some time to adjust, especially in my first match,” Mboko reflected. “I’m aware that the altitude here affects the ball, making it play quite fast for me. It’s essential to adapt to these conditions and make the most of my training days leading up to my first match.”
“I’m curious to see how I react. It might work in my favor, or it might not—only time will tell!”
Other Canadian players competing in singles at the Madrid Open include Leylah Annie Fernandez, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, and Gabriel Diallo.
