Canada’s Vicky Mboko debuts at the U.S. Open, facing former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in a challenging first-round matchup.
Vicky Mboko Draws Former Wimbledon Champ in U.S. Open Debut
Canada’s teenage tennis sensation prepares for Grand Slam test
Canadian tennis phenom Vicky Mboko, 18, will make her U.S. Open debut this Sunday in New York. The Burlington, Ont., native enters the year’s final Grand Slam as the No. 22 seed, fresh off her historic win at the Canadian Open earlier this month.
An opponent with major credentials
Mboko’s first-round match will be no easy task. She faces Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, a two-time Grand Slam champion who lifted the Wimbledon trophy just last year. Though a back injury sidelined Krejcikova earlier this season, her experience and powerful baseline game pose a formidable challenge.
Momentum from a breakthrough season
Mboko’s rapid rise has electrified Canadian tennis fans. Ranked 350th in January, she climbed to No. 24 in the world after her stunning Canadian Open victory, where she became the youngest woman since Serena Williams in 1999 to defeat four Grand Slam champions in one tournament. Her run included upsets over Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, cementing her place among the sport’s brightest young stars.
Inspiration from Canadian history
The parallels with Bianca Andreescu’s 2019 U.S. Open triumph are hard to ignore. That year, Andreescu also entered as an unseeded teenager who had just won the Canadian Open before stunning Serena Williams in the New York final. While Mboko’s camp is keeping expectations measured, Canadian fans are daring to dream.
What’s at stake in New York
If Mboko advances past Krejcikova, her path could include a third-round clash with American Emma Navarro and a possible quarterfinal against Jessica Pegula, last year’s U.S. Open finalist. The stakes are high—not only for Mboko’s budding career but also for a Canadian tennis resurgence after a challenging season for other top players.
Focused preparation and national pride
A fearless playing style and strong baseline consistency, Mboko has embraced the challenge ahead. “I’m excited to test myself against the best,” she said in a recent interview. Backed by growing fan support and momentum from her Montreal triumph, she now looks to make her mark on the world’s biggest stage.
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