Coco Gauff Reveals What She Told 18-Year-Old Prodigy Who Beat Her In Montreal

Sunday, 03 August 2025 at 11:42

byErik Virostko

Coco Gauff was once a young prodigy, playing veterans on the Tour and entertaining the tennis world. Now, she is the one taking on teenagers.

Gauff is already competing in her seventh season on the WTA Tour. That might sound incredible, since she is only 21, but the American has been around since her early teenage years. She has rarely played someone younger than her.

In recent years, it's more common for the two-time Grand Slam champion to play against younger opponents. One of those was Victoria Mboko at the 2025 Canadian Open. The home player is only 18 years old, and she is close to breaking into the Top 50. She needs to win only one more match to do that.

The 18-year-old reached her maiden WTA 1000 quarter-final by beating the top-seeded Gauff in Montreal. She not only beat the American, but did it convincingly, triumphing 6-1, 6-4.

For Gauff, it wasn't a good tournament. She was struggling with her serve, producing a total of 43 double faults over three matches she played in Canada. That was a terrible mark, and after her loss, Gauff recognized that she didn't play well at the event in Montreal.

"I felt like in practice I was playing well the last few weeks just practicing. I decided to take some time off and not play D.C. to actually focus on that, and maybe that wasn't the right decision. Maybe it was better to get more matches under my belt. But you know, it's the first tournament on the hard court season, so I'm hoping that in Cincy and in New York I can find that rhythm."

Gauff knows how special it is to be a teenager competing on the WTA Tour. As one of the most successful teenager prodigies ever, she will likely forever face questions about the new prodigies of the sport, and she didn't avoid one about Mboko either.

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The 21-year-old was asked whether she saw herself in Mboko, but said that they are two completely different players. On top of that, she doesn't want to compare herself to anyone; she also refused to do that when it came to comparing herself to Serena and Venus Williams in the past.

"No, she's a completely different player, completely different person. I've never been one to compare myself to others, whether it be like people comparing me to Serena or Venus, and I don't think it's fair to put that on her as well. But I do see someone who is going to have a really bright future, for sure."

"I mean, she's very athletic. She's a great ball striker, and she seems pretty positive out there on the court, doesn't get really too negative. I mean, I don't know her too well, but I've gotten to talk to her a little bit over the course since Rome."

"I think she has a great support system around her, and I think that's important when you're young and on tour. Yeah, hopefully we have many more battles, and I look forward to playing her again in the future."

Gauff was also asked what she told Mboko at the net after she lost. She admitted that she didn't say much, but that they also met behind the scenes. However, the former US Open champion doesn't feel like she should be giving out some advice.

"I just said, Good playing and good luck in the next round. 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."

Gauff will now move to Cincinnati, where she will hope to advance further than she did in Montreal. On top of that, her World No. 2 rank is in danger ahead of the US Open. If Iga Swiatek wins the title in Canada, she will overtake Gauff.