18-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko has been granted a rare opportunity to compete in the main draw after the sudden withdrawal of World No. 44 Anastasia Potapova. Scheduled to face Poland’s Magdalena Frech, seeded 24th, Mboko will now take to Court 10 at 4 pm local time (11 am ET) for her first-ever Grand Slam main draw appearance.

Potapova’s exit, announced just hours before her opening match, has stirred conversation not only for its timing but also for the implications it carries. Under Grand Slam rules, players who withdraw before their first-round match are still eligible to receive 50% of the prize money, which in Potapova’s case amounts to £33,000.

For Mboko, currently ranked 97th in the world, this unexpected entry marks a pivotal moment in her young career. Known for her athleticism and aggressive baseline play, she now faces a seasoned opponent in Frech, 27, who brings experience and consistency to the court.

The matchup promises a compelling contrast in styles and narratives—one player seizing a second chance, the other defending her seeding and momentum. All eyes will be on Court 10 as the Canadian teenager looks to make the most of her Wimbledon debut.

Victoria Mboko in 2025

Ranked world no.97, Victoria played her last match on the 1^st of January 1970 when she capitulated to world no.134 Priscilla Hon 4-6 7-6(4) 6-1 in the qualifications in Wimbledon (draw).

This season Mboko owns an overall 44-7 win-loss record. Mboko has won 5 titles in 2025 in the W35 Le Lamentin, the Bourg, the W75 Rome, the W35 Manchester and the W75 Porto. The Canadian was the finalist in the Parma.

Anastasia Potapova in 2025

Now ranked no.44, Anastasia played her last match on the 1^st of January 1970 when she overcame world no.327 Renata Jamrichova 6-3 6-7(2) 6-3 in the qualifications in Berlin (draw).

This season Anastasia has managed to achieve a composed 19-10 record. Anastasia has won 1 title in Napoca.

Victoria Mboko and Anastasia Potapova have never faced off.

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