Victoria Mboko celebrates the biggest win of her career, knocking out top seed Coco Gauff in front of an ecstatic Montreal crowd. Image: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi.
(The Post News)– Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko sent shockwaves through Montreal on Saturday, defeating world No. 2 Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 in just over an hour to reach the WTA 1000 quarterfinals.
The 18-year-old wild card played fearlessly, saving all four break points she faced and breaking Gauff three times in front of an electric home crowd. Mboko said the noise and energy in the final game helped her push through and stay composed when it mattered most. “I was still in disbelief afterwards,” she said. “The crowd was incredible, especially in that last game; they gave me an extra boost.”
Starting the year ranked 333rd, Mboko has now climbed to 85 and just notched the biggest win of her young career. She’d pushed Gauff to three sets in Rome earlier this year, but this time she left no doubt.
Gauff, who had been shaky throughout the tournament, couldn’t find rhythm against the aggressive Canadian. Despite a stronger second set, her missed chances and errors, especially on key break points, proved costly. “She played a great match,” Gauff admitted. “I didn’t bring my best, and she made me pay for it.”
Mboko will next face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, while Elena Rybakina and Marta Kostyuk will battle in the other quarterfinal.
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