In 2025, both took notable steps in their young careers. Andreeva won back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in performances that saw her beat Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina during each title run—and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the latter Indian Wells final. Mboko earned WTA Newcomer of the Year honors after climbing more than 300 places into the year-end Top 20 while nabbing her first tour-level crown, also a WTA 1000, in Montreal.
“Seeing her uprise, I think it’s motivating for me and I think a lot of young girls out there who want to play at this level of tennis,” the Canadian said of Andreeva. “Yeah, it’s just a nice thing to see. She’s a super nice girl, and we’re quite good friends off the court.”
Mboko capped her breakout season with a second WTA triumph in Hong Kong. With an Australian Open debut looming, the eighth seed improved to 5-1 on the young season after dismissing Kimberly Birrell.
“I think having that many hours on court can help you,” she said. “It can help me in the next round, being in difficult situations, and just generally improving throughout the tournament.”
