Just moments after Victoria Mboko fought her way to a thrilling three-set victory, marking her first advancement to the fourth round of a Masters 1000 tournament—right in her hometown—the 18-year-old couldn’t help but beam at the endless possibilities ahead.
“I mean, the sky’s the limit,” she shared with Sportsnet’s Danielle Michaud while standing on the center court at Montreal’s IGA Stadium, still riding high from her triumph.
No arguments here! The world No. 85 from Burlington, Ontario, entered the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers as a wild-card contestant. Under the bright lights and before a packed audience, Mboko triumphed over another top-50 rival, this time taking down world No. 39 Marie Bouzkova with a score of 1-6, 6-3, 6-0, making her the only Canadian woman to move into the fourth round of her home tournament.
With this significant achievement, Mboko is set to face the top seed, American Coco Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 2, on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.
This will be a rematch for the promising Canadian. In May, she faced Gauff in Rome’s round of 64, where she succumbed in a tough three-set battle.
“She’s eagerly anticipating that match,” Noelle van Lottum, one of her coaches, relayed to Michaud during a recent interview. “She’s primed for this opportunity and ready to embrace whatever it brings. Playing in front of such a large crowd was a first for her; though she was nervous at first, she found her rhythm and played with great freedom, so she’s genuinely excited right now.”
Mboko’s previous encounter with Gauff was notable—her maiden match against a top-10 player—where she nabbed the first set 6-3 before Gauff regrouped and clinched victory 2-6, 1-6. Showing remarkable resilience, she even managed to recover from a shaky start in Rome, turning the tables after initially falling behind.
“It was a unique experience for her to compete against a Grand Slam winner,” van Lottum reflected. “Physically, she struggled to maintain pace as Coco ramped up her intensity, which led to her dropping the second and third sets. That was on clay, though—playing on hard courts is generally less taxing, so I expect Saturday’s match to be engaging.”
Mboko was pleasantly surprised to find herself matched up against one of the world’s elite so soon in her career, and she’s riding an impressive 49-9 record this season. “Just a few months ago, I wouldn’t have imagined being here,” she remarked just prior to the NBO. But as van Lottum noted, “Top players often make quick strides.”
Since facing Gauff last time, Mboko has accumulated invaluable experience: securing a spot in the final of a WTA 125 event, progressing to the round of 32 at her Grand Slam debut in the French Open, defeating six players ranked within the top 50, competing in a night match before an enthusiastic home crowd, and now advancing to her first Masters 1000 fourth round.
Coco Gauff has had her share of challenges at the NBO too, having been pushed to three sets in both of her previous matches while grappling with her serve—she registered 14 double faults in her third-round match against Veronika Kudermetova and 23 in her opener, which she won in a nail-biting tiebreaker.
“She may not be at her peak game, but great players know how to win even when they aren’t at their best, and Gauff demonstrated that,” van Lottum assessed. “Just like Victoria did during her match on Thursday. It promises to be an exhilarating contest, where experience gained from such encounters will only enhance her performance.”
Throughout the NBO, Mboko has put on display her remarkable groundstrokes, precision in hitting lines, and a powerful serve. Against Sofia Kenin, the world No. 27 in her second-round match, she delivered an impressive 12 aces against just 3 double faults, winning 78% of points on her first serve.
Looking ahead to her clash with Gauff, Mboko emphasizes that her path this season has been fueled by happiness.
“I know it’s not going to be an easy match; Coco is an exceptional player, the No. 1 seed for a reason. I plan to approach it like I have each day—finding joy on the court and maintaining that positive energy,” she explained to Michaud. “I believe that’s my secret to success.”
At the start of this year, Mboko was ranked No. 337 globally. After a season of rigorous training in Belgium, she returned home in November 2024, reuniting with family and friends. This year alone, she clinched four consecutive ITF Challenger Tour titles without dropping a single set, entering the NBO with the most formidable momentum among Canadian players. Supported by her sister Gracie and coaches van Lottum and Nathalie Tauziat, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Montreal crowd after her recent victory, acknowledging her team and family.
“I’m just thrilled to be here, and my happiness plays a huge role in my performance,” she conveyed. “I aspire to progress as far as I can.”
While Mboko isn’t someone who sets rigid goals, she has outlined some practical expectations for herself before her Montreal adventure. “I just want to go out there, deliver a solid performance, and entertain the crowd, you know?” she shared with Sportsnet. “Regardless of win or lose, it’s about putting on a good show for the fans.”
Achievement unlocked! And there’s still much more on the horizon.
