Canadian tennis up-and-comer Victoria Mboko off to torrid start in 2025
Victoria Mboko is winning so many trophies, she can hardly get them home.
The up-and-coming Canadian tennis star is off to a stellar start this season with a 27-1 record and five tournament wins in singles on the second-tier ITF Tour.
With that comes a rise in the rankings, opportunities to play on bigger stages — and some travel headaches.
The 18-year-old from Toronto said flying home from the Caribbean with her shiny hardware earlier this year didn't go over well at airport security.
"They were pretty big plates," Mboko said Friday from Miami during a Tennis Canada video call. "They're not very nice when they see big trophies or big pieces of metal like that."
Mboko's torrid run has included a 22-match — and 43-set — unbeaten streak. Her 20 consecutive main-draw victories also set a new Canadian women's record on the professional circuit.
She has skyrocketed up the WTA Tour's world rankings, climbing from No. 350 at the end of 2024 to a career-high No. 188 in singles.
"Every match I play I want to win, and I mean for me to win in two sets makes the match a lot easier," Mboko said with a smile. "Looking back on it, to have achieved that, it's kind of surprising for me. I would have never thought that I was going to do something like that."
The five-foot-nine Mboko describes herself as a big-serving player who likes to be aggressive and dictate points with her forehand.
Tennis Canada announced Thursday that she'll make her Billie Jean King Cup debut when Canada meets Romania and Japan in qualifiers on April 11 and 13 in Tokyo.
Mboko, who goes by "Vicky," will also play in her first WTA 1000 main draw — one level beneath the Grand Slams — next week at the Miami Open after receiving a wild-card entry.
She's staying grounded amid the whirlwind start to her year.
"I like to go day by day," she said. "It's a very big and fast change for me, I'm going to start playing some higher-level tournaments. I'm honestly happy to be a little bit higher in the ranking.
"To be able to compete with these players is such a blessing for me, and I'm so excited to see what I can do. Hopefully give some trouble out there."
Passion for tennis
The youngest of four siblings, Mboko was born in Charlotte, N.C., before her family, which originally immigrated to North America from the Democratic Republic of Congo, moved to Toronto.
She remembers first picking up a racket at four years old while watching her brothers and sister practise.
"Growing up, all I watched was tennis," she said. "I felt like I've watched tennis more than playing with toys or watching TV. When you grow up in such a tennis environment like that, I only wanted to do the same thing, you know? I didn't want to be left out."
As Mboko's passion for the sport grew, her parents enrolled her in an academy in Burlington, Ont., and she quickly began rising through the ranks.
In 2022, Mboko won the Saskatoon Challenger at 15 for her first professional title and reached a career-high junior ranking of No. 6. She also made the junior doubles finals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon with Kayla Cross of London, Ont.
A serious knee injury that same year, however, slowed her progress. She called it a learning experience.
"I was very young to have an injury (like that). I feel like it's not very common, but it really made me learn how to take care of my body," she said. "Spend that extra time warming up, extra time stretching, everything you can do to recover properly."
Mboko is back to turning heads in 2025, saying her mentality was to treat the season as a "clean slate." On top of her singles success, Mboko has a 6-1 record and two ITF trophies in doubles.
She's excited for the challenges that lie ahead.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
29 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
'Canadian mutants': Ex-NHLer rips Oilers star player and fans, gets ripped back
This in, the controversy already erupting over which players will and will not be selected for Team Canada at the coming Olympic Games, with former American NHLer Jordan Schmaltz provocatively picking a squad absent both Edmonton Oilers Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard. Article content For those who don't recall Schmaltz, after a strong college career at North Dakota, he played 42 NHL games from 2016-19, before heading to Europe and retiring in 2022-23. Article content Team Canada 2026 Olympic roster 🏒 Reinhart- McJesus- Marner Marchand-Sid-The Dogg Cirelli- Point-Hagel Bennett-Schiefle-Wilson Extras: Bob Thomas, Fellabrini (14) Toews-Makar Harley-Paryako Morrissey- Doughty Theodore Extra: Dobson (8) Binner Hill Monty (3) — Jordan Schmaltz (@J_Swish24) August 12, 2025 Article content Article content Schmaltz hit a sore spot with Oilers fan, as both Hyman and Bouchard were left off the Four Nations Cup roster last winter, despite having outstanding 2023-24 seasons and playoffs. The concern now is that both players will be left off the Olympic team as well, despite both Hyman and Bouchard again playing brilliant hockey in the 2025 playoffs. Article content Article content Oilers Nation writer Zach Laing @zjlaing has anyone actually watched the oilers play playoff hockey in the last two years? Article content Oilers fan Skinner over .900? (Knows Puck) @CampbellOver900 For a team that's played the very last game of the last 2 seasons, they are severely underwatched by the rest of the hockey world Article content Article content Dobson… Bouchard is better offensively at 5 on 5, better defensively, better on the PP and now is proving to be good on the PK. Not to mention upping his game (to historic production levels and all around best d-man in the playoff levels). Oh ya, outscores away from 92 and 29. … I think they (Team Canada) could use another material driver of outscoring at 5 on 5 – that's what Bouchard is…. Bouchard is 43-39 goals over the course of the last three years without BOTH McDavid and Drai…. One could also show the numbers for how much worse both McDavid and Drai do away from Bouchard – its substantial, their production rates go down and their goal share goes way down. Article content In response, Schmaltz fired back on his critics. Article content Jordan Schmaltz@J_Swish24 The thing you Canadian mutants don't realize (for the record that's a compliment) is the reason you go with Doughty over Bouchard is fairly simple but the average fan wouldn't understand.. when the game is on the line and into the medal rounds Makar is going to play sub 30 minutes. Paryako will give you 18-20. The other guy on the right side is going to play 10-15 minutes. They don't need Bouchard for PP1 and he's not exactly a penalty kill wizard. Helluva hockey player with the puck you can't question that but who gives team Canada a better option in that role of PK / 10-15 a night on the right side? Doughty is way better suited for that assignment. Weegar / Dobson would be as well. As much as it's an all star team you still need definitive roles and guys who understand how to play in certain scenarios. Doughty has won cups, Olympics, four nations, world juniors. And still can BALL.
Canada News.Net
35 minutes ago
- Canada News.Net
Global athletes discover palette of charms in home of giant pandas
by Xinhua writers Shi Yifei and Wu Qiong CHENGDU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- In Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province and host city of the 12th World Games, Canadian powerboater Reanna Deveau danced alongside a giant panda mascot, her twin buns secured by fluffy panda hair clips. Fresh from a visit to the city's renowned panda research base, she was brimming with excitement: "These creatures are just so adorable." Her teammate, Mark Andrews, captured the lively moment via his camera phone. These two athletes are among 6,679 participants from 116 countries and regions at this year's Games -- the largest and most diverse field in its history. The event in Chengdu marks the latest chapter in a series of world-class sporting spectacles hosted by Chinese cities, following the earlier success of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Chengdu FISU World University Games. BLACK-AND-WHITE ICON Chengdu's iconic giant pandas are a must-see attraction for international athletes. "It was absolutely a highlight," said Fritz Heuscher from Switzerland, his eyes lighting up as he spoke about his visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. "Giant pandas are one of China's best business cards," affirmed Li Desheng, chief expert at the Giant Panda Conservation Research Center. "Overseas, people know them well and dream of coming to Sichuan Province to see them." For many competitors, like Portugal's Miguel Ribeiro, the fascination with pandas goes beyond simply observing them in enclosures. Ribeiro, notably, swapped no fewer than 15 panda-themed pins in a single day. "This is a great way to connect," Ribeiro said. "Many Chinese people shared their own panda stories with me while exchanging pins." "Hearing the stories about panda conservation has shown me a side of China that's even greener and cuter than it is in books," he added. RED HOTPOT, GREEN CITY Chengdu is a city of contrasts, where the fiery heat of hotpot meets the calming embrace of nature. The city's famed Hotpot Bus offers a vivid snapshot of its energetic spirit. Athletes, eager to taste one of the country's most beloved dishes, gather on the red bus to enjoy hotpot. The spice levels range from blazing, mild to non-spicy, all tailored to individual tastes. "Hotpot is a key to cultural exchange," explained Lai Xin, head of city cultural experiences for the Chengdu World Games. Polish canoeist Mateusz Kaminski, who had never tried hotpot before, discovered the dish's depth. "I thought it was all about spice, but like Chengdu itself, it has layers of flavor." Amid the city's fiery culinary passions lies a tranquil balance, reflected in Chengdu's expansive green spaces. Home to more than 1,500 parks -- the city boasts 40.5 percent forest coverage and 44.7 percent urban greenery. Embracing this lush environment, Games organizers chose to host 15 outdoor venues within parks, open water areas and repurposed natural spaces, like meadows and the shores of lakes. After spending time in the city, Andrews reflected on the connection between Chengdu's greenery and the warmth of its people. "I think the more greenery you have around you, the happier you feel. Maybe that's why people here in Chengdu are always willing to help and wear a smile," he said. HEARTS OF GOLD The hospitality of Chengdu's residents was already evident to Andrews shortly after he arrived, while strolling through the historic cultural and business area downtown. A Chinese police officer greeted him with a smile. "Welcome to Chengdu, and best of luck in the World Games," the officer said -- fluent English adding to the charm of the interaction. For Heuscher, the city's welcoming spirit seemed to extend to everyone he encountered. He proudly wore a badge featuring his Chinese name, Fu Qiang, a gift from a staff member at the World Sports Village. "It sounds like 'Fritz,' my first name," he said. This personal touch is part of the services provided in the Village, which offer athletes opportunities to learn Chinese culture through interactive activities. "So far, around 900 athletes have received their Chinese names," said An Xiaoning, head of the program. "They truly have hearts of gold," said Heuscher.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Thunder's Lu Dort to have NBA title parade in Montreal next week
MONTREAL – The Larry O'Brien Trophy will be in Montreal next week. Lu Dort, who won an NBA championship in June with the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will have a two-day celebration in his home city. On Aug. 20, Dort will be accepting a special invitation from Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante to City Hall. About 200 members of the sports community will be there to recognize his championship win and his dedication to youth in Montreal. The following day, there will be a homecoming parade in Montreal-Nord, the borough where he grew up. Dort will also host the fifth edition of Camp Élite, bringing together 50 of Québec's top young male basketball players for two days of training, mentorship and motivation. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'This summer has been a dream come true — winning the championship and having the opportunity to come back home, with the trophy, to celebrate here in Montréal,' Dort said in a release. 'I'm just grateful to share this with the people who have supported me from day one.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2025.
