Victoria Mboko lit up her home crowd with a fearless performance to shock world No. 3 Coco Gauff and book her spot in the Canadian Open quarter-finals.
The 18-year-old Canadian, ranked 85th in the world, dismantled the top seed 6-1 6-4 in just 62 minutes. Her stunning display marked the biggest win of her career and continued a fairytale run in Montreal.
Mboko, handed a wildcard into the main draw, played with composure beyond her years. She broke Gauff four times and showed nerves of steel in the key moments. It was her fourth win of the week, with just one set dropped across the tournament.
“Coming into the match, I was so locked in,” Mboko said after the win. “I tried to keep my composure as much as I could, especially playing in front of so many people.”
Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, once again struggled with her serve. She committed six double faults, taking her total to 43 for the tournament. Despite the loss, the American showed grace in defeat.
“I think she’s going to have a lot of success on tour,” Gauff said. “I’m sure we’re going to have many more battles in the future.”
Mboko’s rapid rise has been one of the stories of the season. She began the year ranked 333rd and stormed through the ITF circuit, winning 22 straight matches and claiming five titles without dropping a set.
This result propels her into the world’s top 60, and she will now face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the quarter-finals. Maneiro, ranked 83rd, presents another winnable challenge for the in-form teenager.
The Montreal crowd was electric, backing their rising star from the first point. Mboko, soaking in the atmosphere, appeared unbothered by the spotlight.
There was belief in every swing, precision in every shot. Her game, built on pace and consistency, rattled Gauff and captured the imagination of a nation.
With each win, Mboko is not just climbing the rankings but rather she’s announcing her arrival on the world stage.
