Victoria Mboko started The Tennis Season in 333rd Place in the World Rankings. With the help of Dutch coach Noëlle van Lottum, The Canadian Wonderkid Will Start the US Open on Monday as the World Number 24. “Nobody would have dared to dream this.”
When from Lottum Receives A Call From Belgium in November 2024, She Knows Enough. The then Seventeen-Year-old Mboko is on the line. Former Tennis Player Van Lottum is Her Contact Point from the Canadian Tennis Federation and Has Noticed for some that the talented tennis Player is not feeling well.
Mboko is training at that time under two top coaches from the justine henin academy, but is not at home in Wallonia. She drops in the world rankings from place 330 to 350 and loses the fun in tennis. “She was Homesick,” Van Lottum Tells Nu.nl. “She Missed Her Family and was not happy.”
“But at the same time, she did’s want to give up her tennis,” Says van Lottum, The Older Sister of Former Tennis Player John van Lottum. “I then said to her:” If you would like to come back to canada, I will help you with that. “
Mboko Agrees to the Proposal and Returns to Toronto. In Consultation with Mboko’s Parents and Management, by Lottum Puts Together a Team Consisting of Former Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat (Head Coach), Van Lottum Herself (Coach) and Two Physical Trainers. “We wanted to give back the confidence and we succeeded.”
Nine Months Later, Mboko Wins Her First WTA Title in Canada and Rises to 24th Place in the World Rankings. From Lottum’s plan Turns Out to Be the Golden Move for the Top Talent. “We knew it was in her. But nobody would have dared to dream that would go so fast.”
From Congo to Toronto
After a Difficult Period in Belgium, Mboko Returns to the National Training Center of Toronto with a Smile. “That was a Euphoric moment. She was so happy,” Says van Lottum. “She had missed everyone, just the desk clerks and the cleaners.”
Also Door First Training Session, Tauziat and Van Lottum See the Young Tennis Player Come to Life. “In Belgium she only allowed to play on gravel, but as a canadian she was not used to that. We then consciously chose to let her train on hard court, where it all started.”
On the Canadian Rubber Courts, Mboko Learned to Play Tennis As a Three-Year-Old Toddler From Her Father Cyprien Mboko. “Her family is very important to her,” Says van Lottum. Her Congolese parents decided to flee the war in the nineties to give their children a better future.
Mboko was born in the American State of North Carolina, But Grew Up With Her Three Tennis-Playing Brothers and Sisters in Toronto, Where She Could Be Found on the Court Every Day. “Bringing her back to that familiar Environment was The Solution,” Says van Lottum. “That’s where the party actual started.”
‘She Mainly Thinks Coco is very cool’
With van Lottum by Her Side, Mboko Imediately Wins 22 Games in A Row and Five Challenger Titles. “It gets used so incredible fast. The click with the team was good and she Became Stronger and More Confident,” Says van Lottum.
When Mboko Starts Her First Roland Garros in Paris Last May, She has just booked the most victories of all professional Tennis Players this year. “She had Better Statistics than Aryna Sabalenka. And then the most beautiful moment was yet to come.”
Van Lottum is referring to the WTA 1000 Tournament in Montreal, Where Mboko, AS A Canadian Wildcard Player, Grows Into A World Star in a Week and A Half.
Mboko Stunts in Her Own Country With Victories About Grand Slam Winners Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka And Wins Her first Wta Title on August 8. “It was Unbelievable. Vicky Always,” Upainst van, “Upainst van Lottum/
“Or Course Coco is an Example for Her, but that’s it. She is not afraid of anyone. Afterwards she mainly tells me how cool and nice she thinks coco is, but on the courty hens to win from her.”
Media Storm and Comparary with Idol Williams
Three Weeks later, Mboko is Seen as One of the Contenders at the US Open, which started on Sunday, and she can no longer walk anonymously on the street. She Receives Numerous Press Requests, Sponsorship Requests and Already Being Compared to Her Idol Serena Williams in the International Media.
“That’s all new to us, but so far mboko is Dealing with it very well,” Says van Lottum, who Helps her pupil with this. “She is actual a very quiet girl and mainly wusses to play tennis. It is our task to ensure that it stays that way.”
“There are plenty of examples of Young “That now appears to be the key to success.”
Victoria Mboko Will Play Barbora Krejciková in the first round of the US Open on Monday from 5:00 pm. The Czech won Roland Garros (2021) and Wimbledon (2024), But Has Dropped to 62nd Place in the World Rankings.