Felix Auger-Aliassime, one of the most prominent names in Canadian tennis, sent a bold message of support to his compatriot Victoria Mboko following her impressive performance at the 2026 Qatar Open. The young tennis player, just 19 years old, made a lasting impression by defeating renowned opponents such as Marie Bouzkova, Vera Zvonareva, Mirra Andreeva, Elena Rybakina, and Jelena Ostapenko, before reaching the final in Doha.
Although she did not secure the final victory against Karolina Muchova, losing 6-4, 7-5, Mboko’s performance did not go unnoticed, propelling her into the top 10 of the WTA rankings for the first time. This monumental achievement reflects her talent and potential.
In statements following his defeat in the Rotterdam final to Alex de Minaur, Auger-Aliassime praised Mboko, confidently stating that the young tennis player has the ability to “win many Grand Slams.” The player, currently ranked seventh in the world, expressed his pride in seeing his fellow Canadians shine in international competitions: “I am always happy when other Canadian tennis players are doing well. Gabriel Diallo had a great year last year and is a good friend of mine. Shapovalov performed well in Dallas, and Mboko did amazing things in Doha. I am really happy.”
Auger-Aliassime also addressed the uniqueness of Canadian tennis, highlighting that, despite being fewer in number compared to players from nations like the USA, France, or Italy, mutual support is crucial: “Obviously, the population is much smaller than that of the USA, but we take pride in every player we have. We all support each other so that everyone can have the best career possible. We are all good friends, and it’s incredible to see a young player like Mboko competing at such a high level.”
The tennis player did not hesitate to state that he is ready to support Mboko in her professional journey: “She really has the chance to have an amazing career and win many Grand Slams, and I will be by her side if she ever needs me. She is already a great player, but I will always be here for her.”
Regarding his own trajectory, Auger-Aliassime outlined his goals for the 2026 season. His main focus is to secure a spot in Turin, which represents a sign of consistency throughout the year. “First of all, my goal for this season is to return to Turin. That would be great, and it’s my main objective for the season. If I can qualify for Turin, it shows that I have been super consistent throughout the season.”
He also revealed that he is looking to win Masters 1000 and Grand Slam titles, which have so far eluded him: “I’m trying to win those titles now. I’ve improved a lot in the last few years and I’m serving much better now. I had a lot of ups and downs and was a bit more inconsistent.”
Auger-Aliassime downplayed concerns regarding a potential injury after receiving treatment during the final in Rotterdam. “No, there’s no reason to worry, it’s not an injury. I was just feeling some tightness in my left leg, but I’m definitely not concerned about it. I’ve just played a lot of matches in a row now, but it’s nothing to worry about.”
With the support of stars like Auger-Aliassime, Victoria Mboko’s future in tennis looks promising, and expectations are high for what she can achieve in upcoming competitions.
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