Victoria Mboko: 'Legacy in motion' captured in Rolling Stone Africa cover story

Today, Montreal. Tomorrow, Melbourne, Paris, London or New York?

Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko says that the next target on her to-do list is winning a Grand Slam tournament or becoming world No. 1.

The 18-year-old burst onto the scene with a breakout 2025 season that's seen her notch 53 match wins at all levels, including a magical run to the WTA 1000 title at the Omnium Banque Nationale in August. That effort magnified the spotlight on the talented teenager, from an interview on *Served with Andy Roddick* to a cover feature on the most recent issue of Rolling Stone Africa.

"Winning a Grand Slam or becoming world number one would always be a huge blessing," she says in the interview with editor-in-chief Gwen Madiba. "I know there’s a process to reaching those goals, and sometimes you never know how early opportunities might come.

"Every day, I focus on improving, both on and off the court. Ultimately, I think it’s important to dream big."

Read more: Run of the year?! Wild card Victoria Mboko wins first WTA title over Naomi Osaka in magical Montreal finish

In the accompanying photo shoot by Esther Balik and Chris Simba, Mboko models in a black corset dress, and an ivory one-shoulder gown with a golden brooch at the shoulder. She beguiles a much older and experienced figure in the glossy spread, just as she did in August when she topped four Grand Slam champions to become the second wild card to win the event, and the youngest Canadian to win her home-country crown in the Open Era.

Read more: Ben Shelton and Victoria Mboko got better with every round in Canada

"Throughout the tournament, I didn’t really see it as something extraordinary, it just felt like another competition," she said. "But looking back and reflecting on it now, I realize how incredible it really was."

"Winning that trophy gave me a huge boost of confidence in myself. I never imagined I would achieve a title like that so early, and it meant so much to me," she added. "For me, it symbolized all the hard work and everything happening behind the scenes that led to that exact moment.

"Words can’t fully describe how it felt, but it definitely motivates me to keep pushing forward and striving for more."

Mboko also speaks about how being the daughter of immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has shaped her, lessons she's learned thus far, and what she hopes her legacy might be in the future.

"I hope to make a meaningful impact on the sport," she said. "It would be incredibly heartwarming to feel that my story, or where I come from, could help change the sport in some way. I want to inspire the next generation of tennis players, whether in Canada or even in Africa, and be a role model for young girls or kids who might not believe they have a chance. If I can have that kind of impact on others, that’s the legacy I would love to leave."