Canadian teen Mboko eager to build on ‘crazy’ breakthrough year

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Tokyo (AFP) – Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko finished last year ranked 350th in the world, but she is now outside the top 20 and determined to move “onwards and upwards” next season.

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The 19-year-old won her first WTA title at her home Canadian Open in August, beating top seed Coco Gauff in the last 16 before defeating former world number one Naomi Osaka in the final.

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Mboko competes in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week and began her campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 win over compatriot Bianca Andreescu on Tuesday.

Mboko, who is currently ranked 23rd in the world, said her breakthrough year had been “crazy.”

“I can look back and at least feel satisfied with what I was able to do,” the teenager said.

“I never would have thought that I would be where I am today.

“Everything is onwards and upwards and hopefully next year I can build some momentum and keep myself very positive,” she added.

Mboko suffered a slump after winning the title in Montreal, losing in the first round of her next four tournaments without even taking a set.

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Her first-round win in Tokyo ended that streak and she said she had “no doubt at all” that she would turn things around.

“I always look at things positively and I think going into the match I just wanted to be really happy with how I was playing and stay true to how I should play,” she said.

“However, I feel a little relieved when I put it aside and try to give it some momentum.”

– Blue Jays fan –

Mboko returned to court two hours after beating Andreescu in singles and partnered her beaten opponent to reach the quarter-finals of the women's doubles.

Mboko said she learned from Andreescu, who won the 2019 US Open but has struggled with injuries and form and is currently ranked 172nd.

“She went through a lot of the same things I went through this year,” Mboko said of Andreescu, whose three career titles came in 2019.

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“It can be a little difficult trying to bounce back and find your way after such a big result.”

“Her presence here helps me when I talk to her sometimes, it helps me gain a little peace of mind,” she added.

Mboko was born in the United States to parents who fled political unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo before settling in Toronto.

She is the youngest of four siblings, all of whom play tennis.

She says she doesn't watch a lot of tennis in her free time, “unless I'm really trying to learn something.”

She's more interested in her hometown baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays, who earlier in the day booked their spot in the World Series for the first time in 32 years.

“It’s amazing, I love it,” she said.

“I'm not really a big baseball fan, but I only follow the Blue Jays for some reason.

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