The 2025 Canadian Open has brought to light a true fairytale run from USA-born Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. The 18-year-old entered the WTA 1000 event unseeded but made an unforgettable impact. One of her standout moments came in the fourth round, where she shocked top seed Coco Gauff with a straight-set win.
Mboko’s remarkable form continued as she dispatched Jessica Bouzas and then edged past ninth seed Elena Rybakina in a gripping three-set battle to secure her place in the final. As Mboko continues to turn heads with her dream run in Canada, it’s important to recognize the foundation behind her success, the constant support and sacrifices of her parents.
All About Victoria Mboko’s Parents Amid Her Rise at the 2025 Canadian Open
The rising star was born on Aug. 26, 2006, in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Cyprien Mboko and Godee Kitadi. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the couple left their homeland due to the hardships brought on by the first and second Congo Wars of the mid-1990s.
Godee reportedly moved to Montreal in 1999 while expecting her third child, David. She later completed a degree in accounting at the Université de Montréal. The family reunited in 2000 when Cyprien joined Godee in North Carolina. Six years later, they relocated to Toronto, with Victoria just two months old.
Mboko d. Elena Rybakina 1-6 7-5 7-6(4) in Montreal
Unreal.
Match point saved.
Down 3-5 in the 3rd set.
18 year old Victoria is into her first career final, and it’s a WTA 1000 in front of her home crowd.
Oh yeah… did I mention she beat 3 Grand Slam Champions this week?… pic.twitter.com/UDhp5TKcH3
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 7, 2025
Victoria Mboko is the youngest of four siblings, Gracia, Kevin, and David, all of whom were introduced to tennis early on. Gracia played at the University of Denver, Kevin at Edinboro University, while David, once a promising player, stepped away due to eye issues and later earned a computer science degree from the University of Toronto.
While the Canadian’s grit and determination have played a major role in her rise on tour, her parents’ contribution should not be forgotten. Her father, a retired mechanical engineer, has long been a passionate tennis enthusiast, admiring legends like Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, and Jim Courier during his days in Congo.
He became a constant pillar of support in his children’s tennis pursuits, often working night shifts to accommodate their training schedules. Her mother, Godée Kitadi, an accountant, managed a demanding workload at home and would usually pick up their eldest daughter, Gracia, after practice sessions.
Mboko Stunned Elena Rybakina in the Third-Set Tiebreak To Reach the Canadian Open Final
It wasn’t an easy task for the Canadian to overcome Rybakina. She dropped the first set 6-1 and appeared out of rhythm early on. However, her resilience began to show as the second set got underway.
The Canadian fended off a break point in the opening game of the second set and soon surged to a 3-0 lead. Rybakina responded by reeling off three consecutive games to level the score, but her momentum was short-lived. Mboko regained control and closed out the set 7-5, avoiding a tiebreak.
The final set proved to be tough for both players. Rybakina led 4-2 at one stage and even served for the match, but Mboko broke again to level the score and forced a tiebreak, eventually winning 7-6(4) and booking her spot in the final. Mboko will now face the winner of the second semifinal between four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka and Clara Tauson.
