AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 25, 2026

Victoria Mboko

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/V. Mboko

6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Vicky, obviously a tough one out there today but you fought very hard out at Rod Laver Arena. Can you give us your thoughts on your performance and your experience and overall.

VICTORIA MBOKO: It was a pretty nice experience being it my first time on the center court playing against world No. 1.

Yeah, I think at the end of the day it really came down to experience. She played really great tennis. I of course had my chances. But I'm glad to have played her today and just seeing how she can play and what to expect. So just a learning curve from now on.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congrats on the run. A really exciting match in the second set. You've had so many matches where you've played a great player and they've won the first set and you've been able to come back and win. During the second it looked like you were starting to do that to her. We know she's the best player in the world, but did she do something specific from taking over the match that other opponents haven't been able to do?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I've been in so many situations where sometimes I'll have a slower start. She played really great tennis in the first set, serving well, great ball striking.

I think I started to get used to her I'd say pattern of play in a way or like her pace of the ball and just tried to run with it. Trying to find my rhythm as the match went on also was important for me.

Yeah, I was pretty close in the second set. She was serving really well. It was difficult to return her balls. And yeah, I mean, she upped her level at the end of the day.

Q. Victoria, you obviously had some thoughts about what it might be like to face her. Typically like a lot of players you like to dictate the points and really sort of let it go. It's very hard to do that against her. So what's plan B, especially after the first set she had?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I mean, she's a very aggressive player. I think she's known for that. So I guess I wouldn't say there's a plan B for me because if I was more defensive and tried to put balls on the court, I don't think that was also an option because she likes to step in and take control.

So I think the best shot for me was to try to restrict her from opening the court as much as I possibly could let her. But then again, she can create openings out of really difficult shots. So I mean, that's really great tennis from her.

Yeah, I think just trying to stay toe to toe with her in rallies and try to push her back as much as possible was kind of my goal. But yeah...

Q. Two part question. The experience today of playing the top-ranked player on the main stadium, what can you take out of that that will give you more confidence against players who are ranked below No. 1? Do you think the way you played in that second set will help another younger player who's playing her in the next round?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Sorry, can you repeat your first question.

Q. What was the main thing you got out of today playing her in the main arena that will give you confidence playing players ranked below No. 1 the next time you meet them?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Okay. I think even players ranked below her, there's many great players who can I think deliver high-quality tennis just as well.

But I think something I can learn from myself today was I feel like a lot of matches I'm able to get away with not hitting really a thorough ball, or say if it's too short she automatically took advantage of it and wasted no time to completely put me on defense.

I felt usually I'm able to kind of get away with that, but with her it was from the start, the moment my shot quality wasn't good enough, she was dictating right away. So that's something I could work on and learn for the next time.

And your second question was?

Q. She's going to play another young up-and-coming player in the next round. Do you think the way you played in the second set particularly will give her rivals more confidence?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Her rivals?

Q. Yeah.

VICTORIA MBOKO: I mean, I can't really speak on how someone else would play against her. But it was quite close in the second set. I had my chances.

But, you know what, sometimes some players hit some really great shots that you just have to clap for it. You know, you can't really do much about it.

But I just think having self-belief at the end of the day is important when playing players who are high-ranked, No. 1 in the world.

Yeah, that's all I can really say.

Q. I have to ask you about that 4-5 game as well, especially the forehand winner you hit on the first match point, and those forehand returns later on in the game. You know, between that and your entire run in Canada it just kind of seems like you have a really uncommon ability to play your best tennis on the most important points even relative to pro players. This may be a hard question: How do you do it?

VICTORIA MBOKO: I think just staying loose in those moments. I don't look that far ahead to think that I'm going to save tons of match points and just turn around the match. But, you know, I think the beauty of just not really caring and just going for your shots can go a long way.

So, yeah, I didn't really think I was going to save those match points, but I think it's also important just to stay loose in the shots.