Victoria Mboko is the talk of the tennis world right now following the biggest win of her professional career.
Travelling home for the Canadian Open, Mboko was determined to make her presence felt.
Doing just that, Mboko stunned Coco Gauff in the fourth round, knocking out the two-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Wins over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Elena Rybakina followed, as the 18-year-old advanced to the Canadian Open final.
There, Mboko defeated Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, lifting the title in front of her adoring fans in Montreal.
Ranked 350th in the world just eight months ago, Mboko will now head to New York for the US Open as a seeded player.
Few would’ve predicted her to make such a rapid rise to the top, although one of Mboko’s fellow WTA stars noticed her potential when they played each other in May.
Qinwen Zheng was ‘100% sure’ Victoria Mboko was headed to the top after their match at Roland Garros
Mboko headed to Paris in May, looking to qualify for her first Grand Slam tournament.
Advancing to the main draw without dropping a set, Mboko picked up her first wins at a major tournament.
2025 French Open Q1 – Victoria Mboko defeated Sinja Kraus, 6-4, 6-22025 French Open Q2 – Victoria Mboko defeated Kathinka von Deichmann, 6-3, 6-22025 French Open Q3 – Victoria Mboko defeated Kaja Juvan, 7-5, 6-32025 French Open 1R – Victoria Mboko defeated Lulu Sun, 6-1, 7-62025 French Open 2R – Victoria Mboko defeated Eva Lys, 6-4, 6-4
Booking her place in the third round, Mboko met the number eight seed, Qinwen Zheng.
Mboko gave it her all, but couldn’t pick up the win as she fell to a 3-6, 4-6 defeat on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
The Olympic gold medalists’ experience proved vital in Paris, as she was by far the more clinical of the two players, converting all four of her break points en route to victory.
PlayerAcesDouble faults1st Serve %Win % on 1st ServeWin % on 2nd ServeBreak pointsQinwen Zheng3263%70%59%4/4Victoria Mboko0365%60%38%2/8Stats from Victoria Mboko v Qinwen Zheng at the 2025 French Open
Impressed with Mboko’s efforts, Zheng shared her prediction about the teenager’s future during her post-match press conference.
“For sure, she will be one of the best players in the future,” said Zheng.
“I’m 100% sure because she has already got the strength, the game. There is nothing more I can say.”
Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images
Zheng proceeded to highlight the three qualities Mboko possesses that she believes will send her right to the very top.
“She hits the ball really hard, and then she has a great serve. She has, you know, huge power. She moves on the court really well,” she said.
“It was honestly a really tricky and tough match, because I know if my mental goes a bit down or I lose focus, I felt she was going to turn the match around.”
The Chinese star was glad to have secured the win, but was made acutely aware of just how talented Mboko is during their clash in Paris.
Defeating four Grand Slam champions in Montreal, Mboko showed that she is already ‘one of the best’ around, proving Zheng right.
Victoria Mboko’s wins over Grand Slam champions in Canada3R v Sofia Kenin (2020 Australian Open champion)4R v Coco Gauff (2023 US Open, 2025 French Open champion)SF v Elena Rybakina (2022 Wimbledon champion)F v Naomi Osaka (2018 US Open, 2019 Australian Open, 2020 US Open, 2021 Australian Open champion)
Mboko’s rise to the top has been incredible this year, as in the space of eight months, Mboko has become a true contender on the WTA Tour.
Victoria Mboko’s ranking progression in 2025
Beginning the year ranked 350th in the world, Mboko has raced up the rankings and will be a top-30 player come Monday.
Month (End of)RankTitles wonDecember 2024350–January 20252683 – Le Lamentin, Petit Bourg (ITF W35), Georgia’s Rome Open (ITF W75)February2121 – Manchester (ITF W35)March1561 – Porto Indoor (ITF W75)April156–May120–June 97–July85–August 11 (Live Rank)241 – Canadian Open (WTA 1000)Victoria Mboko’s rank by month
It remains to be seen where the 18-year-old will be ranked at the end of the year, but at this rate, anything is possible.
Mboko is scheduled to return to action at the US Open, which begins on Sunday, August 24.