Victoria Mboko has partnered with coach Wim Fissette, hoping to achieve Grand Slam success. The Canadian teenager, who has risen quickly in the rankings, hopes Fissette’s experience with major winners will help her achieve her goals.
Mboko’s New Coaching Partnership
Mboko began working with the Belgian coach last week in Strasbourg. Fissette has previously coached Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters, Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek. Mboko hopes to add her name to that list of champions.
Mboko feels Fissette’s experience with high-ranked players and Slam champions will provide a different perspective. She believes it will help her understand what it takes to reach those top positions.
Strasbourg Success
The partnership appears to be paying off already. Mboko reached the final at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, before losing to Emma Navarro in three sets.
Mboko said she would not have believed she could reach the final. She had an “unlucky” period that included wisdom teeth surgery and an illness that forced her to withdraw from the WTA 1000 in Rome. She also cited her short history with clay-court tennis.
Clay Court Improvement
Mboko admitted she initially felt uncomfortable with her movement on clay. She focused on sliding and fitness to compensate for her play on the surface.
She feels she has improved since she started training on clay. She believes her fitness helps her in certain aspects of the game.
Looking Ahead to Roland Garros
Mboko is excited ahead of the tournament. She hopes to win as many matches as possible at Roland Garros. She is set to face Nikola Bartunkova in the first round.
Mboko successfully qualified for the tournament last year and reached the third round. That result propelled her into the Top 10 within 12 months.