WTA star Victoria Mboko might have easily taken down former champions, including Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and others at ease, but she still finds it hard to win battles against the players at home. The 18-year-old recently admitted how she often lost matches against her siblings, a recurring result that often made her cry.
Turning candid about the family adventures, the Canadian pro mentioned how being the youngest sibling generally resulted in her defeats.
Victoria Mboko Talks About the Competitive On-court Relationship With Her Siblings
Mboko recently completed a dream week by defeating former world No. 1 Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to claim her first WTA title at the Canadian Open. Amid the campaign, she defeated current French Open champion and world No. 2 Gauff, 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. That makes her only the third teenager in the Open Era to defeat four Grand Slam champions in a single event.
After the commendable campaign, Mboko mentioned how she always struggled to secure a win against her siblings. In a conversation with former American pro Andy Roddick on his “Served,” she mentioned how her family delved into a competitive spirit from an early age, often defeating her with a dominant streak.
“My sister… She’s 10 years older than me, so I was really competitive. I have three older siblings for reference, one older sister and two older brothers, and they’re a lot older than me. The closest age gap is seven years between me and my brother. So, growing up, I never wanted to lose them, but, then again, every time I played with my sister, it was an eight-year-old vs an 18-year-old,” she said.
“I remember once our academy tournament director kind of put us against each other first round because I was an alternate in the tournament. And they let me choose the type of ball, whatever court surface we are able to choose, and she annihilated me. I think that was the most I’ve ever cried in a day. I just remember crying in my dad’s arms the rest of the day, and I think I didn’t talk to her for like a good week.”
After the victory in Canada, Mboko decided to skip the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati to grab some rest ahead of the US Open 2025. However, her entry at the major event still remains unconfirmed.
WTA Legend Martina Navratilova Makes a Bold Prediction About Victoria Mboko
Mboko’s commendable victory at the Canadian Open helped her secure the first-ever tour-level title and made the tennis community gain confidence in her form. After winning over Osaka, WTA legend Martina Navratilova named the young Canadian a possible fit for the dark horse position at the US Open.
“After Montreal, I’d say Victoria Mboko has announced her arrival loud and clear and must be considered a threat to go deep,” the 18-time Grand Slam champion said.
After winning the WTA title in Montreal, Mboko climbed to the 24th spot in the rankings and is now all set to compete in the main draw at the US Open.
