Victoria Mboko on what stood out to her after reviewing defeat to Aryna Sabalenka

Victoria Mboko has worked her way up the rankings over the past year, steadily establishing herself as a real presence on tour.

It’s been a remarkable rise since she first broke through in 2025. The 19-year-old already has two titles under her belt, including an emotional WTA 1000 win at home in Canada.

In January, Mboko went head-to-head with Aryna Sabalenka for the first time, meeting the world number one in the fourth round of the Australian Open. She lost in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6, but took positives from the experience.

This time around it was much closer and showed that despite being beaten again by Sabalenka there had been progress made by Mboko.

Victoria Mboko speaks on her second match against Aryna Sabalenka

Mboko had opened up about her quarter-final defeat to Sabalenka at Indian Wells, following a win in her first match at the Miami Open.

She told Tennis Channel: “I mean, playing her again, of course, I knew what to expect. And then again, it was another time on the centre court, so that was pretty cool.

“I felt that I kind of knew her balls, and I knew how she kind of liked to play. So I felt like I had a little bit of a different plan going into the match. And I just tried to stay in there as much as we could.

“You know, in the first set, we were just holding each other’s serve. I had a lot of opportunities. She had a lot of opportunities.

“And honestly, looking back at it, I was like maybe like the difference between one or two points if I was just able to convert and maybe who knows what would have happened.

“But yeah, it’s just little moments like that that can really make a difference and go a long way. So I mean, I’m happy to have played her again.

“You don’t feel as bad losing to the number one in the world. So it’s nice.”

Victoria Mboko admits she rarely watches footage of her own matches

Despite her improved showing against Sabalenka the second time around, she didn’t review any footage from their first meeting before the Indian Wells match.

When asked if film study is part of her routine, Mboko responded: “No, I don’t like watching myself play, but if I have to, I do if it helps me learn stuff.

“Yeah, but honestly, I don’t. I like watching everyone else but myself.”

Mboko has started well in Miami, easing past Anna Blinkova 6-2, 6-0 in her opener as she looks to add a third career title.

Next up for Mboko is a matchup against Anastasia Zakharova.

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