'A future Grand Slam champion': Sabalenka makes Mboko prediction

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka did not hold back when talking about the future potential of Canada’s Victoria Mboko after their quarter-final showdown at Indian Wells.

"A future star, a future Grand Slam champion, no doubt about that,” said Sabalenka of Mboko. "It's incredible to see these young girls these days, how brave they are. They go out there, they go after their shots, they're aggressive, they're fighting.”

The 19-year-old is now a Top 10 player herself as she continues to build on a fairytale 2025 campaign which saw her surge from No. 333 in the WTA Rankings to rubbing shoulders with the likes of Sabalenka on a regular basis.

That rise was fuelled by success on the ITF World Tennis Tour, while it only seems five minutes since Mboko was competing at the 2018 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals – our international team event for players aged 14 and under.

What a journey and what a player Mboko has matured into. Her rise is another great example of the ITF World Tennis Tour being the pipeline for talent to rise.