Coco Gauff Makes Feelings Known on Turning ‘Mentor’ for Victoria Mboko After Canadian Open Exit

Home favorite Victoria Mboko has secured a spot in the Canadian Open quarterfinals after dispatching Coco Gauff.

Coco Gauff Makes Feelings Known on Turning ‘Mentor’ for Victoria Mboko After Canadian Open Exit

Coco Gauff, Victoria Mboko (Image via X/Coco Gauff, TNT Sports)

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Coco Gauff was once again denied a berth in the semifinal of the Canadian Open. This time, the opponent was teen sensation Victoria Mboko, who breezed past the two-time Grand Slam singles champion with a 6-1, 6-4 scoreline.

With this win, the 18-year-old tied the head-to-head record over Gauff to 1-1. Prior to this clash, they met in the second round of the Rome Open, which Gauff had won in three sets before reaching the final and losing the match to home favorite Jasmine Paolini.

Following her defeat in the ongoing tournament, Gauff was asked at the press conference what she had told Mboko during the customary handshake.

I just said, ‘Good playing and good luck in the next round’. Yeah, I don’t know what else much more to say.

Mboko made her WTA 1000 main draw debut at the Miami Open and reached the second round. She then made it to the second round of the Rome Open. Mboko has now secured a spot in the quarterfinals of a tournament in the 1000 or above category for the first time in her career.

I’ve spoken to her a little bit behind the scenes, but I don’t know, some people expect me to give advice and stuff. The only thing is just to go out there and have fun and not take it too seriously. But yeah, I think she already has a good head on her shoulders. Yeah, I’m not trying to be a mentor or anything. She’s doing great.

Coco Gauff added

This season, Mboko made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the French Open, where she progressed to the third round and lost in straight sets to 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist Qinwen Zheng. At Wimbledon as well, Mboko secured a spot in the main draw and made it to the second round, only to lose in straight sets to Hailey Baptiste.

Coco Gauff on comparisons between herself and Victoria Mboko

Coco Gauff has made it clear that she believes she and Victoria Mboko are completely different players, and that she doesn’t recognize herself in the teenager at all, and also brushed aside the comparison with Serena Williams and Venus Williams. But Gauff has only praise for the Canadian ace for her athletic abilities and her positive attitude on court.

Victoria Mboko, Coco Gauff
Victoria Mboko, Coco Gauff (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Coco Gauff)

No, she’s a completely different player, completely different person. I’ve never been one to compare myself to others, whether it be like people comparing me to Serena or Venus, and I don’t think it’s fair to put that on her as well. Yeah, but I do see someone who is going to have a really bright future, for sure.

Coco Gauff said at the press conference

Mboko will next be locking horns with Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who knocked out China’s Zhu Lin. If she wins the tournament, Mboko will become the first woman since Bianca Andreescu (2019) to win the tournament as a Canadian player.

Gauff is a three-time quarterfinalist in Montreal (2021, 2022, 2023). This is the third time after her French Open win that the 21-year-old has failed to advance to the quarterfinals of a tournament. Before starting her campaign on the North American hard-court swing, Gauff was defeated in her opening rounds of the Berlin Open and Wimbledon.

She will aim to get back to winning ways at the Cincinnati Masters, where she is a former champion. In 2023, she defeated Karolina Muchova to win her career’s first WTA 1000 title in the tournament. But last year, Kazakh ace Yulia Putintseva ended her run in the second round.

Also read: Jasmine Paolini Puts Down Rumors of Collaborations With Goran Ivanisevic After Rough Patch