Teenage sensation Victoria Mboko’s visit to her coach Nathalie Tauziat’s house has inspired her seamless transition to the grass.

The 18-year-old hasn’t competed on the surface since a junior singles semi-final and doubles final run at the All England Club back in 2022.

Three years later, and with just one week of practice at Wimbledon’s Raynes Park facility, the Canadian has conjured up two victories.

Former world No.3 Tauziat reached the singles final on Centre Court in 1998, finishing runner-up to Jana Novotna.

“I have seen some footage of that final. My dad put it on the TV and we watched a few points,” the world No.96 said.

“I’ve been to her house and seen the trophy. It’s pretty nice, it’s the perfect inspiration.”

Mboko started 2025 ranked down at No.333 but collected five ITF titles before taking a set off eventual finalist Coco Gauff at the WTA 1000 in Rome in May, and then ended runner-up at the WTA 125 Parma event.

It got better.

In Paris, the Canadian stormed through qualifying and made it to the Roland-Garros third round to launch into the limelight.

“I haven’t really been able to appreciate that yet – I was so focused on getting on to the grass,” said Mboko, who defeated world No.222 Swiss Valentina Ryser 6-3, 6-3 to advance on Wednesday.

“I’m always looking ahead to the next thing,” Mboko said. “As of now it was a really great run for me and it really opened my eyes to what I’m capable of and what my current limits are.

“It feels great to still be here. Qualifying for a Grand Slam is such a mental battle. I’m very excited for tomorrow.”

Mboko, vying for a main draw ticket against Australian Priscilla Hon, hails US Open 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu as a mentor. Unfortunately for her legion of fans, Andreescu fell to her inspired countrywoman Carson Branstine 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-1 on Court 4.

Taylor Townsend will return to the All England Club soon and see her pictures on the wall holding up the women’s doubles silverware from last July.

Not quite yet: there’s business to be done at Roehampton.

“My mind and focus is here on the singles but it feels great to be a returning champion and I’m here to win another one. That’s the goal.”

The American is wielding her racket with joy during Ladies’ Qualifying Singles, smiling her way through a comprehensive 6-3, 6-1 triumph over world No.206 Hina Inoue.

“I’ve had some bumps in the road recently. Every time I step out on the court, I’m really grateful and really working to enjoy myself and have fun,” said Townsend, who is ranked world No.98 in singles and No.2 in doubles.

“I really find I gather a lot of strength from qualifying because you earn your way in. Also, because I wasn't able to get match play on grass leading up to this event, I’d go into the main draw kind of match-prepared, match-ready and (having) got my feet wet.

“It would mean a lot but I have one more to go. I'm not done yet, still working on it.”

Just under a fortnight ago, Townsend posted a series of glittering pictures on social media with the silverware she’d won since coming back from maternity leave in April 2022. It’s a whole bunch of silverware.

The tone is all-empowering: “Keep going. Keep pushing. Keep believing. Keep knowing who you are,” reads the caption.

“I actually did those photos in January before I left to go to Australia this year,” Townsend said.

“But it’s really important sometimes to remind yourself of how far you have come… I was going through a tough time, and it was a bit of a kick in the ass for me to say ‘Hey, even though things aren’t going the way you’d like or planned, it’s OK, you’ve gotten so far and done so much, be proud of who you are. You’ve got so much more to go.’

“I’m very thrilled be back on the court competing. Because it’s not guaranteed. My pregnancy showed me that. So this has definitely been a whirlwind experience. I’ve experienced a lot of firsts over the last three years which is rare to be able to say being on tour the last 15 years. How often are you able to say that? I feel like I’m still growing.”

Former No.11 Alize Cornet, who has a victory over Serena Williams on her impressive Wimbledon record, continued her Qualifying campaign with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback over Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva.

Former world No.14 Petra Martic, who has featured in the main draw fourth round three times, is one step away following a 6-2, 6-4 win against Selena Janicijevic.

No.17 seed Diane Parry will meet Australian 16-year-old prodigy Emerson Jones having ousted Alina Charaeva 7-6(3), 6-2.