Coco Gauff was stunned by Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in their fourth round match in Montreal.
Gauff had beaten Mboko at the Italian Open back in May, but she was unable to repeat this feat on the North American hard courts.
The American has since developed a relationship with the young Canadian star, with Gauff even admitting she should have played doubles with Mboko before.
Gauff has called Mboko one of the ‘top players’ on the WTA Tour right now, and that certainly showed in their match at the Canadian Open.
What Coco Gauff told Victoria Mboko at the net after their match at the Canadian Open
Double faults have been an issue for Gauff throughout the Canadian Open so far, but they were actually less prevalent during her defeat to Mboko.
Gauff had gone down to single figures (6) on double faults for the first time this tournament, but was still beaten by Mboko in straight sets, 6-1 6-4.
The two players embraced at the net, and Gauff was asked in her post-match press conference what she actually told Mboko.
Gauff actually admitted that she did not say anything special to Mboko, and claimed that she is not trying to be a mentor for the 18-year-old.
“I just said, good playing and good luck in the next round,” revealed the world number two. “Yeah, I don’t know what else much more to say.
“I’ve spoken to her a little bit behind the scenes, but I don’t know, some people expect me to give advice and stuff. The only thing is just to go out there and have fun and not take it too seriously.
“But yeah, I think she already has a good head on her shoulders. Yeah, I’m not trying to be a mentor or anything. She’s doing great.”
Victoria Mboko follows in the footsteps of Coco Gauff at the Canadian Open
Breaking on to the scene from an early age is something that is very familiar to Coco Gauff, having done so as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon in 2019.
Mboko, who began the year ranked outside the top 300, appears to be following a similar trajectory to Gauff and has actually achieved a record similar to her at the Canadian Open.
Gauff first reached the Canadian Open quarterfinals as a 17-year-old in 2021 and again as an 18-year-old in 2022.
Now Mboko, who will turn 19 later this month, has become the youngest WTA player to reach the Canadian Open quarterfinals since Gauff in 2022.
Mboko will now look to continue her incredible run at her home WTA 1000 tournament.
After beating top seed Gauff, the draw has now opened up for Mboko and she will play world number 51 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro for a place in the Canadian Open semifinals.
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