Taylor Fritz has shared his thoughts on Victoria Mboko, who has emerged as the unexpected standout at this year’s Canadian Open. Both players advanced to the tournament’s semifinals, though Mboko’s impressive run was far less anticipated.
The 18-year-old Canadian has defied expectations by defeating top competitors such as Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin, and Marie Bouzkova, marking her best career performance thus far. Recognized as a rising star in women’s tennis, Mboko has drawn attention for her rapid ascent up the WTA rankings.
Fritz Comments on Mboko’s Potential After Advancing in Montreal
After his own hard-fought victory over Andrey Rublev, 6-3, 7-6(4), Fritz reached the Canadian Open semifinals for the first time. Alongside questions about his play, Fritz was also asked about Mboko’s surprising success in Montreal.
Admitting he had not previously observed her matches closely, Fritz acknowledged her strong results signal the potential to become a top player. He said,
“Yeah, I mean, I saw that she beat Coco, but I haven’t really been following a ton, I’ve been playing until 2:00 a.m., and then waking up at like 2:00 p.m.”
—Taylor Fritz, post-match press conference
He continued to emphasize Mboko’s promise despite limited firsthand experience:
“But just to have those results at a very young age, especially at home too, that’s a great feeling. But, yeah, I’m sure she’s moving in the right direction of being a top player.”
—Taylor Fritz, post-match press conference
Fritz Prepares for the Cincinnati Open Draw
With the Canadian Open finals coinciding with the start of the Cincinnati Open, players face little downtime. While Mboko has not confirmed her participation in Cincinnati, Fritz is already set with his placement in the Masters 1000 event.
As the tournament’s fourth seed, Fritz benefits from a bye into the second round, potentially facing Borna Coric, the 2022 Cincinnati champion. Other significant competitors in his draw include Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Flavio Cobolli, Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe, and world number one Jannik Sinner.
Fritz has been challenged by Sinner in recent matches, suffering four consecutive defeats, making a possible semifinal showdown noteworthy.
Fritz Aims for Masters 1000 Final After Canadian Open Semifinal Matchup
Before Cincinnati, Fritz’s immediate focus is reaching the Masters 1000 final by winning his Canadian Open semifinal against Ben Shelton. This will be only their second meeting, with Fritz having won their previous encounter at Indian Wells earlier this year.
Fritz’s strong play so far this tournament and recognition of Mboko’s rise highlight the evolving competitive landscape in tennis, with new talent emerging and established players maintaining their drive.