Mboko continues to inspire and aims at Gauff: "I will enter the match as I always do"

Fernando Murciego | 1 Aug 2025 | 08.10

Victoria Mboko targets Coco Gauff in Montreal. Source: Getty

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After signing such a remarkable season like the current one, it would have been unfair if Victoria Mboko collapsed right this week, while playing in front of her audience. But that hasn’t been the case; the 18-year-old Canadian has reached the round of 16 at WTA Montreal 2025 with three great victories that confirm this girl is destined for big things in the circuit. She enjoys it, and the crowd enjoys with her, although what comes next are serious words. In a couple of days, she faces the challenge of playing against Coco Gauff, who is on another level, respectfully, compared to Marie Bouzkova. Will she achieve the greatest feat of her career? Reading her statements, attitude seems not to be an issue.

A devoted audience

"Today there were a lot of people in the stadium; it was a very tough match for me, but I feel like I managed to take it both physically and mentally. I am truly happy to have walked away with the victory, I felt really good stepping out there and being able to reproduce my level of tennis on the court until the end of the match. That's all I can say."

From worse to better against Bouzkova

"The match had a very unstable start for me, especially in the first set. I felt like it was one of those days when you really can't understand what's going on; you just see that you are feeling very bad, and nothing is working in your favor. This ultimately plays a mental role because you are not comfortable with the tennis you are producing. Then, I took advantage at the end of the set to take a break and go to the bathroom, regather my thoughts, and restart everything from scratch. That moment helped me reconnect all the systems and start playing much better."

Turning point

"In the second set, I wanted to change many things, but above all, I wanted to make sure that my movement was at least twice as better than what I showed in the first set, along with my concentration. I felt like I wasn't as focused as I should be; perhaps that's why I wasn't as precise in my movements. It's like I couldn't move sideways; everything I did was going back and forth, or side to side. I didn't want to focus on any specific aspect of tennis or any technical aspect; all I aimed for was to start moving well inside the court."

The toughest of the Czechs

"Maria is a very solid player; we all know her, so from the beginning, I knew perfectly the type of match that awaited me today. She can put many balls into play, let's say that's the strongest point of her tennis. Today I wanted to be as patient as possible, not rush; so, it was also a mental battle with myself. All I wanted was to stay there all the time, stick with her, and find the right moment to go for a stronger shot. In my case, it all revolved around finding that moment well."

Against Gauff in the fourth round

"I am very excited thinking about that match; she is the number one seed of the tournament, although I have faced her before, so I know very well what to expect. I truly hope for a very tough battle against Coco. It's always great to face these incredible athletes, amazing tennis players like her, so it will surely be a very enjoyable experience again. Here, the surface is different; some months ago, we played in Rome, although your playing style doesn't change due to the surface. I will enter the match as I usually do with all my matches, no matter the conditions. I expect the best from myself."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mboko sigue ilusionando y apunta a Gauff: “Entraré al partido como entro siempre”