Victoria Mboko's Parents: From War‑Torn Congo to Supporting Their Daughter's Upset of Naomi Osaka

Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old Canadian tennis player, stunned four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal. The upset victory, which took place on Thursday, 7 August, marked Mboko's first WTA 1000 title. With the win, she made history not only for herself but also for Canadian tennis. Her rapid rise is underpinned by a compelling family journey, with parents who fled war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to give their children a better life.

A Landmark Win at Home

Mboko entered the tournament as a wildcard and left as the champion, defeating Osaka in a three-set thriller: 2–6, 6–4, 6–1. Her path to the final was equally impressive, as she overcame Grand Slam champions Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina in earlier rounds. The victory catapulted her into the international spotlight and pushed her WTA ranking into the top 25 for the first time in her career.

The Story Behind Victoria Mboko's Parents

Victoria is the daughter of Cyprien Mboko and Godee Kitadi, who originally lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the late 1990s, the country was engulfed in violent political conflict. According to Pro Football Network, Godee moved to Montréal in 1999 while pregnant, eventually joining Cyprien in North Carolina, where Victoria was born in August 2006.

When Victoria was just two months old, the family relocated to Toronto, Canada, where she was raised. Both parents worked tirelessly to support their children's education and athletic ambitions. Cyprien, in particular, took on night shifts to fund Victoria's tennis training and tournament travel during her early development.

Tennis Roots Run Deep in the Mboko Family

Victoria is the youngest of four siblings, all of whom have played tennis at competitive levels. Her sister Gracia and brothers Kevin and David were instrumental in her exposure to the sport. David later stepped away from tennis due to eye issues, but Kevin and Gracia played at collegiate level in the United States.

Victoria began playing tennis at the age of three or four, showing promise early on. She was enrolled in Canada's high-performance tennis development programmes, where she steadily climbed the junior ranks before making her mark in ITF and WTA events.

A Dual Identity: Congolese and Canadian

Victoria's success carries a strong cultural dimension. While proudly representing Canada, she also embraces her Congolese roots. According to The Times of India, at the start of 2025, Mboko was ranked around the world No. 333 with a 52‑9 record, an extraordinary rise that underscores her relentless improvement and adds context to how her background has shaped her resilience.

From Family Sacrifices to Global Headlines

Amid her success, there has been a surge of media interest in the Canadian. Her parents have remained largely private, rarely appearing in the media, but according to Tennis Tonic, the values they instilled, gratitude and resilience, have kept her grounded despite growing fame. Their journey from war‑torn Congo underpins the mental strength behind her tennis ascent.

Mboko's triumph at the National Bank Open is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the strength and support of a family who overcame adversity to help her reach the world stage.