To Win, Cope Like Our Tennis Queen

What does it take to be a winner? Just ask Victoria Mboko, the 18-year-old Canadian tennis sensation who defied the odds at the National Bank Open in Montreal. In a single week, she surged from world No. 85 to No. 25, defeating several top-ranked players to get crowned with the championship trophy.

While her serve and footwork were remarkable, Mboko’s true strength was mental. Her ability to stay composed and focused under extreme pressure reveals the mindset of a champion—and offers lessons we can all use in the face of adversity.

The 3-A Coping Framework: A Mental Edge

To understand how Mboko thrived under pressure, we can look to the 3-A Coping Framework: Acknowledge, Assess, Assist. This model emphasizes monitoring yourself with awareness as a foundation for resilience. It can help anyone—whether you're on a tennis court, the workplace, caregiving or facing personal setbacks and losses—stay mentally strong through challenges.

As her coach Nathalie Tauziat noted, tennis isn’t just physical—it’s intensely mental. From Mboko’s post-match interviews, it’s clear her mental game was just as vital to her win as her athletic performance. This can be demonstrated through the 3-A Coping Framework components:

Acknowledge

Mboko doesn’t ignore the pressure—she faces reality head-on. After dropping the first set in the final, she acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment. Instead of pretending it didn’t exist, she embraced the challenge. This allowed her to stay mentally prepared and focused on what she could control.

Assess

Throughout the match, Mboko checked in with herself—evaluating both her desire to win and her emotional state. By staying aware of her internal responses and behavior, she avoided becoming overwhelmed by the moment. This assessment helped her stay grounded and strategically focused.

Assist

Mboko used a range of mental strategies to assist herself in staying present and resilient. Whether it was practicing mindfulness between points, managing her breathing, or using positive self-talk, she had tools in place to reset and move forward—even after setbacks.

She didn’t allow frustration to take over. Instead, she relied on routines and self-regulation to maintain clarity and confidence when it mattered most.

Support as a Mental Anchor

A crucial—and often overlooked—part of coping is seeking support. For Mboko, looking toward her team’s box and seeing her family provided emotional strength during tough moments. The Canadian crowd’s energy also boosted her morale, reinforcing her sense of purpose and belonging.

In contrast, her opponent Naomi Osaka appeared to struggle mentally as the match wore on. Lacking visible support or emotional grounding, Osaka seemed increasingly disconnected and frustrated—highlighting the powerful role support can play in maintaining composure and performance.

A Mindset Built Over Time

What sets Mboko apart isn’t just her athletic talent—it’s her intentional, practiced mindset. Her ability to acknowledge pressure, assess her inner state, and assist herself with both internal and external tools didn’t develop overnight. It’s the result of years of work, coaching, and experience.

Take It Off the Court

The 3-A Coping Framework isn’t just for athletes. It’s for anyone dealing with stress, pressure, loss, or change. Whether you're facing bereavement, illness in the family, stress in the workplace, or personal adversity, the same principles apply:

• Acknowledge the reality of your situation, the losses accompanying the adversity.

• Assess your emotional, mental, physical reaction and behavior.

• Assist yourself with coping strategies—like self-talk, mindfulness, grief processing and support from others.

• Assist by Acknowledging and Assessing

By applying these components, you can stay focused, resilient, and mentally strong—just like our tennis queen.