Coach Nathalie Tauziat suggests Victoria Mboko made the business decision and skipped Cincinnati because she wants to put all of her focus on the US Open and "do something big" in New York.
Mboko, who was ranked outside the top-300 in the world when the season started, is now a WTA 1000 champion and is sitting at a career-high ranking of No. 24 in the world. And no one can say that the 18-year-old's run to the Montreal title was a coincidence or pure luck, considering that she beat the likes of Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka in front of her home fans.
After beating Osaka in the Montreal final, Mboko - who injured her ankle during a fall versus Rybakina - confirmed she needed to get some treatment and that she wouldn't play in Cincinnati.
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After Roland Garros, when we defined the schedule up to the US Open, we set some goals. Based on the way shes playing, we know shes capable of doing something big in New York. We want to focus 100% on that tournament, arriving well prepared and injury-free. After Montreal, it was vital to manage the schedule well, which is why were not going to Cincinnati," coach Tauziat told Tennis365.
Mboko has never played at the US Open as a pro and she is set to be a seed
Mboko's career and fame may be on a rapid rise but she made her Grand Slam main draw only four months ago, when she reached the French Open third round as a qualifier. At Wimbledon, the teenage sensation made the main draw as a lucky loser before exiting the tournament in the second round.
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After debuting at the French Open and Wimbledon, Mboko is set for the same at the US Open. But unlike in Paris and London, the 18-year-old won't need to play qualifying at Flushing Meadows. And not only that, but she is also set to be a seed after breaking into the top-30.
If Mboko is healthy and she can translate her form from Montreal to New York,she will definitely be one to watch for at Flushing Meadows.
