OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

July 27, 2025

Victoria Mboko

Press Conference

V. MBOKO/K. Birrell

7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Vickie, congratulations. Great job today. Just talk us through how it felt on court out there today in front of your home fans?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, so today was really fun. A really fun experience playing in front of the Canadian crowd. First time in Montreal. Playing on the Centre Court was a little bit nervous at the beginning, but I would say that throughout the match it kind of got better, and I felt more confident towards the end.

Q. You said you were a little bit nervous, but at the same time this year you've had some big matches on big stages. How did those matches help you to maybe keep your composure today?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah. Well, I could say that I had a lot of matches under my belt, too. Starting to play more tournaments on the WTA have given me a little bit more of a confidence boost in a way.

I only would say I was a little bit nervous today because it was my first time playing in the main draw in front of Canadian fans. So it was a little bit nervous walking on court, but I know a lot of them are really there just to support me, whether I won or lost the point. I was really grateful for that. I think it really helped me as well to get through the match.

Q. In the second set you won a tough fourth game. Did you feel like that was the breaking point in the game in your favor?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Was it the breaking --

Q. Was it the shift of momentum?

VICTORIA MBOKO: The fourth game, yeah, it was a really important game because I think that was the one where I was receiving, and she was serving, yeah.

I mean, to break serve in general is really important to kind of have that lead in the match, but I think it really made a big difference in the match because if she were to hold, it was going to be a tie in the score.

I really wanted to put a lot of emphasis to break her in that moment that I had the chance and to serve really well so that I could have the bigger edge in the match.

Q. Victoria, 16 aces. Just how comfortable are you with your service right now, and how much does that help to get those free points in a match like today?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, well, I mean, I kind of surprised myself a little bit in the match where I was serving really well. I just wanted to have a really good first serve percentage, honestly, in the whole match, but I didn't know that I was going to serve like that, but it gave me a lot of advantages and a lot of free points. So I think that also was a big factor in the match to help me gain those points where I really needed them.

Yeah, hopefully I can continue like that.

Q. You mentioned being a bit nervous. What made you nervous exactly? Was it playing at home, playing on the big stadium? How were you able to overcome that?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Well, I think growing up, National Bank Open was always a tournament for a lot of young Canadian kids like me, who we looked up to watching this tournament. It was always basically in our backyard for us to watch.

I think playing an event like this where you were able to watch it and go see it live all the time, it's a bit different to any other tournament. And to play in front of Canadians too, you want to kind of put on a good performance, and you want to do well.

I think that's why I was a little bit nervous, but I think as I got into the match, it kind of all went away, and it was okay.

Q. Earlier in the day we spoke to Coco Gauff, and she spoke really well about you. You could face her in the round of 16. Are you looking forward to a rematch with her? Is she an idol to you?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I mean, it would be really fun to play Coco again. The last time I played her was in Rome, and it was a very difficult match for me, but she's an amazing player. To play great players like her, it's always a great opportunity. It's always a lot of fun for me.

To face against her would be really, really nice again. I mean, hopefully that could happen.

Q. You have Sofia Kenin coming up. Do you have a few words about her? What do you expect from her in that match?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Well, I don't really know how she plays or I don't know her game so much, but she's a seeded player here, so I know she's going to play some really great tennis. I know I'm expecting a very hard battle against her.

I'm just going to go in the match with the same mindset that I do all the time where I need to be focused from the first point.

I'm not expecting anything easy, so I'm just going to be very prepared for that.

Q. I'm curious about a very stupid detail. When we look at the WTA rankings, you are one of the few players that doesn't have its picture. It's a silhouette. Is that something you noticed? Is that something you know that's coming? What do you make of it?

VICTORIA MBOKO: I mean, I don't think I have taken my photo yet, so it doesn't really matter to me at all. I'm still there. It's still my profile, so I mean, eventually maybe there's going to be a photo there, but it doesn't matter that much to me.

(QUESTIONS IN FRENCH)

Q. After the match, I had the chance to speak with your parents, who weren’t at all surprised by your success this year. Can you tell me what the importance of family is to you and your success?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yes, the importance of family to me is simply that they bring me calm during the tournament. They make sure I eat well, sleep well, and feel good. For my dad and mom, coming to a tournament like this is an advantage for me, and I love it.

Q. What did it mean to you to play in front of a Canadian crowd in such a big tournament?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yes, it was very fun for me because I feel like Quebecers -- how do you say it in French -- they are more loud, they watch tennis a bit more than the fans in Toronto. So yes, I think today was great for the spectators who cheered me on a little more.

Q. Your father also told me that you’re a modest, humble family and that they always make sure to keep you grounded. Is it true that they make sure your success doesn’t, let’s say, go to your head?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yes, yes, I think so. Yes, I think—yeah, it’s kind of like because I told my brother -- they always say, “You’re not that good,” or “I’m better than you.” So, it’s a bit humbling for me that they have that attitude toward me.

Q. We’d appreciate it if you could recap your match in French and your impressions of your first experience in French.

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yes, my experience today, it was very, very fun. Ah, it’s my first time playing on Centre Court in Montreal and my first main draw at the National Bank Open. So yes, I’m very excited for the upcoming matches and to see how I can do here.

Thank you, thank you.