Victoria Mboko has faced a significant challenge just before the North American hardcourt season. The young Canadian talent has had to pull out of the WTA 1000 event in Toronto, only a year after her impressive journey to winning her first WTA title at this very tournament.
She received encouraging messages from fellow players, including Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk, after sharing her “deeply disappointing” news.
Victoria Mboko Withdraws from the Toronto 1000 Event
Mboko, who grew up close to Toronto, was eager to shine in front of her hometown fans during the National Bank Open in August. As last year’s defending champion, she made history with an incredible title run in Montréal, defeating Kimberly Birrell, Sofia Kenin, Marie Bouzkova, top seed Gauff, Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro, and Elena Rybakina before completing a comeback against Naomi Osaka in the final with scores of 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The 19-year-old unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury at the beginning of the grass-court season. While competing at the Queen’s Club Championships-where she teamed up with Serena Williams for doubles-Mboko slipped and fell on the grass during her singles match against Karolína Plíšková. She had to retire from that match and also withdrew from doubles.
A few days later, she revealed that she had injured the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in her left knee which cut short her grass season. Although Mboko hoped to recover in time for her local tournament, she announced on Tuesday, July 7 that she wasn’t yet fit enough to compete. In an Instagram post, she expressed how “deeply disappointing” it was to withdraw.
“Everything kind of happened so fast. There were so many emotions going through my mind. It’s only a little setback, and I want to be a better person out of this,” she shared in a video.
“Toronto was a tournament that I always went to growing up. The National Bank Open also holds a special place in my heart. Knowing that I won’t be able to play this year is very saddening, but I feel like I have so many more years ahead of me to play this tournament,” she added.
Her peers rallied around her as Gauff and Kostyuk commented with heart and teary-eyed emojis. Eva Lys, Peyton Stearns, and fellow Canadian Carson Branstine also expressed their support.
“We love you, Vicky,” Branstine wrote.
“You’ll be back stronger, babygirl,” said American tennis star Sloane Stephens.
MORE: Victoria Mboko Spotted at Wimbledon Village With Alexandra Eala, Wearing a Knee Brace After Withdrawal
Mboko hasn’t shared when or where she’ll return yet. After losing 1000 points from the National Bank Open and another 60 points from Washington D. C., she’s hoping to compete throughout the remaining North American hardcourt swing since she’ll have virtually no points to defend there.
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