Following a season commencement marked by a 22-game undefeated streak on the ITF Tour’s secondary level, Mboko has demonstrated in the past couple of weeks her ability to compete against top-tier players, securing victories over Grand Slam champions such as Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin, Elena Rybakina, and Osaka.
This signifies the value of dedicated effort since the age of three, and also for her parents who arrived in the United States back in 1999 — a country that offered refuge from political instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, it was in Toronto where Mboko — who was born in Charlotte, in the US — felt the spark to pursue tennis.
“I recall attending events there as a child and observing all the exceptional players in action,” Mboko shared with the Women’s Tennis Association.
“We spent considerable time watching Serena and Venus [Williams], and that’s where I found a great deal of motivation, as Serena was undoubtedly the greatest player of all time. I used to watch how the professionals conducted themselves and was always filled with admiration for them. And now, I see them right alongside me.”
Mboko’s coach, Nathalie Tauziat — a former world number three and Wimbledon finalist in 1998 — has been overseeing Mboko’s impressive form after previously mentoring her in the junior circuit.
“I believe that it’s crucial for her to witness us maintaining composure when challenges arise. I remember at the start of the year, she would often comment: ‘You remain so calm during the match,” Tauziat noted.
“The US Open remains the primary goal – who knows, she might achieve something remarkable? For now, we’re taking it one match at a time, while hoping to avoid any injuries.”
