Canadian teen Victoria Mboko wins Grand Slam debut at French Open and looks for more

Victoria Mboko is still just 18, still rather new to the top level of professional tennis, and yet with a big serve, a terrific backhand and enviable court coverage, the Canadian is making the most of her first season on tour, including a victory in her Grand Slam debut on Sunday at the French Open in Paris.

When it was mentioned that her 6-1, 7-6 (4) elimination of 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Lulu Sun meant Mboko has claimed all eight sets she's played over the past week-plus on the red clay at Roland-Garros — including six in a trio of triumphs in the qualifying rounds — the Toronto teen laughed, revealing the braces on her teeth.

"This does, obviously, feel really quick for me. Although it feels quick, I feel like I'm also adapting very quickly. I want to be in this level," said Mboko, represented by talent agency IMG since the age of 12. "To adapt really fast is really important to me. The more I feel like I make it seem normal to me, the more normal it's going to be in these tournaments."

Against the left-handed Sun, Mboko's serve — which she considers her game's greatest strength — played a significant role in the outcome.

With her father and two of her older siblings in the stands at Court 9, a short walk from Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Mboko reached a top speed of 115 mph and delivered seven aces. She won all 10 of her service games, saving all seven break points accumulated by Sun.

"I love to dictate points on my serve, and I love to use that as an opportunity to be more aggressive and be up in the score," said Mboko, who is currently ranked 120th. "Especially in women's tennis, having a good serve and holding all the time is pretty crucial. It helps me get out of a lot of sticky situations."

Her favourite player