US OPEN

August 23, 2025

Victoria Mboko

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Vicky, congrats on Montreal. Give us your thoughts on coming into US Open, especially with that title under your belt.

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I was really happy to get my first-offer WTA title in Montreal, at home, especially. But coming into this, of course I really had a lot of confidence. I felt really happy with myself.

But it's also in the past, and I'm looking forward to playing here. Really excited to have my first US Open main-draw experience.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What memories, if any, do you have of Andreescu and Raducanu and their runs here when they came out of nowhere to win the titles? What inspiration might they be to you?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Well, I mean, I feel like they kind of proved that you can do anything you put your mind to. You know, I think they were both kind of the underdogs coming into the Grand Slam, so it just proves that the trophy is there for everyone and that you can do anything.

I mean, especially watching Bianca, in Canada it was huge. So, no, I was really happy for her. Yeah, I just feel really happy to be here.

Q. How would you describe your feelings about yourself and your game today versus, say, a month or two ago?

VICTORIA MBOKO: I feel like not much has really changed. I feel like I'm playing kind of the same way. I think tennis is also very mental, so however you're kind of feeling with yourself and how confident you feel with your game, you're able to produce good tennis, as well.

Yeah, I think for me just staying as positive as I can is the most important, and yeah.

Q. Congratulations on Montreal. Speaking of former this tournament's champions, Naomi is two-time champion, and you said that she is kind of your idol. I was wondering, what do you remember about her winning this tournament, and what was your experience or feeling of playing against your idol in the final in your home country?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I remember actually watching Naomi when she was playing against Serena here in the final. I think that was an incredible match. I love both of them very much and their games.

So when I was playing Naomi in the final in Montreal, I was really excited, and it was a very difficult match. But, you know, playing at home in front of your home crowd can be very nerve-racking, but I just wanted to use their energy as much as I possibly could in a positive way.

I think I enjoyed sharing the court with her and being able to compete with her. Yeah, I think it was just a really great experience.

Q. Can you just describe what these last few days have been like, going from Montreal? One minute you're fighting for your first and second rounds and now after winning a 1000, you're on talk shows and on TV. Can you describe what that whirlwind is like? Has it all sunk in right now?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, everything has happened super quickly. Yeah, I mean, after Montreal I did a lot of talks and a lot of interviews, and, you know, that's something that I'm not really used to as much as before, at least.

So, yeah, I enjoy doing it. I love talking to new people and having new experiences. I think that's just a part of the game and the journey.

Looking back at it, it was really cool to experience what I got to do, and then again, it's in the past. So I'm able to look back at it and kind of smile a bit, but, you know, there are so many more things to come in the future that I really look forward to. So I'm happy.

Q. Just wondering, how does it feel to be sitting in this room right now? I mean, now you're at the US Open and practicing on Louis Armstrong. How does everything feel here right now?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Well, I mean, it feels really cool. I remember being here as a junior in 2022, and I remember that juniors only had access to the training center, indoor training center. So to be able to kind of see the grounds a little bit, getting to practice on Louis Armstrong, seeing, like, the player lounge and the locker rooms, it's a really cool experience, especially this is one of my favorite Grand Slams. So I think just everything seems really cool to me.

No, I mean, I'm really happy to be here, and I'm just really excited to play these weeks.

Q. You had a lot of three-set wins in Montreal. I wonder if those three-set wins filled you with more joy than a simple straight-sets win or does it not matter? Winning is winning?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I feel like winning is winning. I mean, of course playing three-set matches is a little bit different, because you spend a lot more time on the court and you feel a little bit more tired at the end, so I'd say in a way that could feel more rewarding.

But to go in the match and come out with the win in general for me is just really great. Yeah, I mean, whether I won in two or three sets doesn't matter to me as long as you kind of get the job done.

Yeah, I mean, either/or. It's okay for me.

Q. I wonder the things you notice most about, you kept playing higher and higher-level tournaments and in Montreal you played against Grand Slam champions. Are there things they do differently to lower-ranked players? What are the things that struck you?

VICTORIA MBOKO: When I started playing on the WTA Tour a little bit more, I just noticed the girls could hit a very much harder ball with a lot of consistency, so that's something I had to adapt to really fast, and trying to adjust my game and adapt to that kind of speed and power.

There's so much athleticism, so much great ball striking. I used to think I hit the ball pretty hard, but when I started to play here, there were so many girls that hit so much harder than me.

So having to get used to that, I had to change that really fast and try to keep up with them. I'd say that's the biggest difference, but, I mean, I'm also learning along the way.

Q. Did you have to do different things then? If you're used to being the most powerful player and now you're not, do you have to bring different things to play or do just try and hit even harder?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Well, I wouldn't say I was the most powerful player in general, but I just mean that a lot of girls, a lot of them hit, most of them hit a pretty clean and powerful ball here.

But I feel like I didn't have to change much about myself, but, you know, I think it's just getting used to it, and with repetition and playing more matches, you kind of adapt yourself and change.