QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN

February 11, 2026

Victoria Mboko

Press Conference

V. MBOKO/M. Andreeva

6-3, 3-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Vicky, congrats on the win. Very tough match. Talk us through your thoughts and how you pushed through.

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah. Well, I know it's not easy to play Mirra. I've known her for such a long time, and I know what she can bring to the tennis court, so I'm really glad to have gotten the win today and pushed through.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Mirra is just a year younger than you, but she's been on tour for so long. As you were watching her making the transition to the pro circuit, how motivating was that to see someone of your age group doing so well?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, seeing her do so well at such a young age, it's very motivating. Knowing her for such a long time it was nice. I mean, when I kind of made my way to the tour, having someone who I knew and could kind of relate to in a way, it was really nice. Yeah, I can definitely see myself playing her a lot more in the future. She's just really nice to have around.

Q. Obviously a pretty back and forth match. Talk about your tiebreak and getting it done. Obviously it was very, very close.

VICTORIA MBOKO: Well, the match was very close. She had a match point in her service game, and the tiebreaker was also very close. I feel like I came out with some very clutch shots at the end.

Yeah, I think we both were pretty tired when it came to the tiebreak. I think I felt like I was lucky enough to have some good shots in the great moments.

Q. I think you played a few weeks ago in Adelaide. What was different compared to that match and this match? What did you do better from your side?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Well, I think I was kind of more energized, in a way. I wasn't feeling 100 percent in the Adelaide final. She also did play really solid tennis. She completely deserved that win.

Today it's a different tournament, we're in a different place, different courts, and it's just a different vibe overall. I don't really like to dwell on the past, and I just was thinking it's going to be a new day today.

Q. I think today you used a lot of slice, forehand slices or shot angles to open up the court. Is that something you are trying to do recently, or that is kind of a specific tactic against Mirra?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I didn't really have a specific tactic against her. But she, I know she slices really well, and she hits really low. I think she forced me to hit those shots. She covers the court really well, so I think for me it was just trying to find the little window to open the court. Yeah, I just found myself hitting those kinds of shots because that's all I felt I could do.

Q. Obviously it was a very close match. When you were match point down, how do you block out the pressure of that moment and really step in and attack?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I feel like there's been so many times where I'm down a match point, or the opponent has a match point, but I don't really think much of it. I just think of it as any other point in the match. She had her chances. She also saved two match points in the tiebreaker. I think it's important to know that you never know when the match is over until it's over and just to fight until the end.

Q. Obviously you don't know who you're going to be playing yet but potentially Rybakina or Zheng. Just your thoughts on playing either of them.

VICTORIA MBOKO: I'll probably be watching the match when I get to the hotel. Whoever wins, I just know I'm going to have a really tough opponent tomorrow. Maybe I can try to watch and see if I can pick up on some things to do tomorrow, but I'm entertained to see their match first.

Q. A couple days ago you talked about how much you wanted to play against Serena. At this point, of course, it's just a rumor, but rumor has it that she might be coming back. Any thoughts on that?

VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I've been seeing it around my social media where it says she's coming back. I feel like it's never really confirmed until she says it's confirmed. That would be pretty cool for the sport. She's a legend. She's such a household name.

I mean, if I were to ever play her, that would be a really great experience, and that would be really fun.