ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2025

Victoria Mboko

Press Conference

V. MBOKO/E. Lys

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Into the third round at Roland Garros for the first time. Can you just give us your thoughts on how you approached your match today and how you were able to win in straight sets?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, so yesterday or when I won my first-round match, I realized I was going to play Eva Lys, and I knew she was a great player and I know she was going to be playing some good tennis from the beginning of the match.

I was very focused throughout the whole match. Of course she was a very solid player, especially from the baseline. She really made me earn every single point.

I'm so happy to have gotten past that and through to the third round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Seeing quite a few of your family members in your box, just curious who is actually with you here. Of your family members, who has played the key role in your career and development so far?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, so here with me it's father, my sister, and my brother. My two siblings are older than me, a lot older than me. So I feel like they have had a lot more experience in tennis than I have, even though I have played I think a higher level than them.

Yeah, they are all very so supportive of me, and they're so positive every single day in all the matches I play. Honestly, I'd say all of them. All of them are very, a key role in my development and how I project, I guess.

Even my father, I feel like he's made a lot of sacrifices for me, so I'm grateful that he's here, as well.

Q. How old are your brother and sister?

VICTORIA MBOKO: My sister is going to be 29 tomorrow and my brother is 28.

Q. You had a chunk of time between your last match and this match. Can you sort of talk us through the last couple of days and how you spent the time, things you did. I know you have played a lot during qualifying, so it was probably nice to have a little bit of rest. Then also, just sort of this morning, what was your routine? I know you haven't done this very much, but what did that look like to get you in the right head space heading into this match?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I mean, so the last match I played was two days ago, so two days is quite a bit of time between the first and second round. But I think I kept it pretty relaxed and chill, you know. I kind of had a day off.

The day after my match, only did some fitness and some light hitting. I did a light practice again yesterday. So, I mean, it's been really calm between the days. That's how my coach wanted it to be, anyways.

This morning, I mean, I kind of woke up pretty early and did my usual routine like I would normally do before a match. It was pretty normal.

Q. What is it?

VICTORIA MBOKO: So I'd say I woke up at around, like, 6:45 and had a quick breakfast. Got here around, like, 8:45. Did a physical warmup, physical and a practice I think around 9:30 to 10:00. Then I just chilled in the locker room until my match.

Q. Wondered how, looking ahead to your next match, big opponent, big stage, how are you feeling about that?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I feel like I'm not really so focused on it right now. Of course my next opponent, she's a really good player, and I know it's going to be a very difficult match for me.

I just finished my match not that long ago, so I'm still trying to settle down a little bit and keep it relaxed. I have a day off tomorrow, anyway, so I'm going to start thinking about it maybe like the night before my match anyways.

Q. It's your first slam, and you made it to the third round. How do you manage all the emotions at 18 years old? And you mentioned the sacrifices of your father. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I mean, I feel really happy right now, and yeah, of course there is so much happening even, like, behind the scenes. But, you know, I feel like my family has been doing a good job of keeping me really, like, I guess, isolated from it all.

I have just been enjoying the moment. I have been enjoying time with my sister and my brother.

Yeah, I don't have so many people around me, and it's kept me very calm and very comfortable.

To my father, you know, he's retired now, but, you know, when I was training a lot, he was working night shifts so he could be at every single one of my practices, especially when I was a junior. He was very, I guess, like, strict with my tennis, I could say.

Yeah, I mean, he's done so much to help me develop and try to bring me to really great trainings and coaches. Many of this wouldn't have been possible without him.

Q. I'm a journalist from China. Do you know anything about Qinwen Zheng?

VICTORIA MBOKO: I mean, she's top 10, you know. So that's, like, already a big thing overall. I mean, she's beaten so many great players. She's also an incredible athlete. I mean, I'm expecting a big fight. I'm going to bring out a big fight against her.

Yeah, I think it's going to be a very hard battle for me.

Q. What are your expectations for the next round?

VICTORIA MBOKO: My expectations? I feel like I don't really like to put a lot of expectations on myself or of the outcome of the match. I mean, the only expectations that I can feel right now is that it's going to be a very difficult match.

Of course it's going to be very tiring. I'm going to have to build points very long, and I'll have to bring out my best tennis. So that's all I can really expect for now.

Q. This win should solidify you in the top 100. Is it something that you follow in any way? Was it an objective of yours? Did you expect that to happen this tournament or any time in the near future?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, honestly, I would have never expected that at all. It's really exciting, to be honest, but I didn't know at all, to be honest, until I think my parents told me.

Yeah, I mean, that's a really great accomplishment. I mean, who wouldn't want to be top 100? You're amongst one of the top, best in the world. You're playing Grand Slams all the time.

Yeah, I think that's a pretty great milestone for me regarding that I was like around 300 at the beginning of year. So I think that was a pretty big jump for me. I'm happy so far.

Q. You have a namesake in Brazil, Victoria Barros. She's 15. She is going to play the girl's draw. She posted today a good-luck message to you in Instagram. I'd like to know how friends you are, where you met, and if you have some advice for her, she's 15, and how to get, at your age, at such a stage and withstand the pressure.

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, so I think I met Victoria when she was a very little girl, she was very small. I was playing a junior tournament in Brazil in 2022. I think I met her and her mom. She was playing the junior tournament of the tournament we were playing.

I mean, yeah, she was a very cute little girl, and she asked me for a photo, and I think I talked with them a little bit. I actually saw her recently at the Miami Open, and she grew so much. I think, I mean, she's playing really great tennis, I think, because she's getting better in the junior ranking.

I mean, I think she should just keep believing in herself. She has a great future ahead of her. Yeah, I mean, I think maybe I'll see her again this week or something, but I'm sure I'll have a couple words with her too, and I really hope the best for her. She's a very nice girl.

Q. In the former press conference, you talked about your relationship with Bianca Andreescu. You also talked about Gabriel Diallo who is in the main draw here. Does he give you some advice, as well?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Gabriel, I mean, we see each other kind of a little bit when we go back to Montreal and we don't have tournaments and we happen to be at the Center at the same time.

But he's really nice. Yeah, every time I see him, he's always congratulating me a little bit of what I have done and sometimes vice versa, the same.

Yeah, I mean, I feel like we haven't really talked about that stuff as much. I feel like we talk about everything else but that. But, I mean, I'm really happy for him, and it's really nice to have him around too as, like, another Canadian who is playing in the main draw. Yeah, I wish all the best for him, and yeah, it would be nice to see him go far, as well.