Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his warm welcome to Canadian tennis sensation Victoria Mboko at Parliament Hill on Wednesday, commending the Toronto youngster for her exceptional performance on the WTA Tour. Carney had a meeting with the 19-year-old Mboko and her family at his office in West Block, where he had the opportunity to admire the trophy she clinched at the National Bank Open in Montreal earlier this year.
Addressing Mboko, Carney conveyed how honored and proud Canadians are of her remarkable accomplishments at such a young age, speaking on behalf of the nation. He emphasized that the National Bank Open trophy symbolizes qualities such as perseverance, resilience, and extraordinary talent.
Following his remarks, Mboko autographed the tennis racket she used during her victorious match in Montreal. Carney, visibly surprised, exclaimed, “No way!” and mentioned that the racket would be prominently displayed. In a light-hearted moment, Mboko jokingly offered Carney to play with the racket, to which Carney chuckled, admitting his tennis skills were not up to par.
Starting the tennis season ranked 350th globally, Mboko concluded the season with a career-high 18th ranking after securing victory in two tournaments, including the prestigious WTA 1000-level National Bank Open in Montreal.