Victoria Mboko has shared details of her relationship with Alexandra Eala after the pair competed in a thriller in Hong Kong.
Mboko produced a stunning comeback against Eala to ensure the victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
The number three seed won five consecutive games to take the third set against Eala in what many are calling one of the matches of the year.
Mboko spoke about her off-court relationship with Eala after defeating the star at the Hong Kong Tennis Open.
Victoria Mboko shares details of her relationship with Alexandra Eala
Mboko was delighted with the victory in Hong Kong, but made sure to praise Eala for her efforts in the match.
“It feels unbelievable to come back from a match like that,” she revealed in her Hong Kong press conference.
“Alex is playing such incredible tennis and, of course, the ambiance in the crowd was very electric and it was very intense. So, I think it really pushed me more and more to fight as much as possible,” she added.
“I mean, at the end of the day, looking back at it, I feel super grateful that I was able to pull it through, but it was such an incredible experience.”
The Canadian Masters champion shared details about her off-court relationship with Eala, who she’s known since their junior days.
“She’s such a sweet girl,” Mboko shared. “She’s so nice, and we had so many great memories together off the court.”
“I mean, we’ll go and get like a bubble tea together, or we’ll go and do the most wholesome things together. She’s such a sweet girl, and it’s never fun to play your friend.
“At the end of the day in the match on the court, we want to win. I can’t really remember what I told her at the net, but I was like ‘That was such an incredible match’.”
Mboko will play Anna Kalinskaya in the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Tennis Open, with the winner facing either Sorana Cirstea or Leylah Fernandez.
Victoria Mboko begins to show Canadian Open form again
Mboko’s victory at the Canadian Open is one of the stories of the year, but the 19-year-old has struggled on the Asian swing.
The teenager failed to pick up a win at the four preceding tournaments after her landmark Masters victory, but she’s beginning to build some momentum as the season draws to a close.
Mboko beat Bianca Andreescu and Eva Lys at the Japan Open and she’s followed it up with two more wins in Hong Kong.
The Canadian has certainly turned her form around, and her 2026 season could be even more exciting than 2025.
