Teen Mboko eyes US Open inspired by Canadian show

Tennis sensation Victoria Mboko is focusing on the US Open after her unexpected win at the Canadian Open last week.

Her coach Nathalie Tauziat has backed Mboko’s US Open chances as she discussed the Canadian’s decision to pull out of the Cincinnati Open. Mboko stunned the tennis world with her epic Canadian Open triumph, rallying from a set down to beat Naomi Osaka in the final.

Ranked 85th in the world coming into her home event, having needed a wildcard to enter the draw, the 18-year-old has now surged up to a staggering new career-high of world No24.

That is enough for Mboko to be seeded at the US Open which starts next week, in what will be her third Grand Slam appearance. Mboko came through qualifying to make her Grand Slam debut at the French Open, reaching round three, before making the second round of Wimbledon as a lucky loser.

Mboko beat four Grand Slam champions, including Osaka, to triumph in Montreal. She will not play between her win and her maiden US Open main-draw appearance.

Mboko’s career is currently being guided by the hugely experienced Tauziat, a former world No3 and runner-up at Wimbledon in 1998. Tauziat said: “Based on the way she’s playing, we know she’s capable of doing something big in New York. We want to focus 100% on that tournament, arriving well prepared and injury-free.”