Snowbirds love Tennis Paradise. And this year they are flying the Maple Leaf proudly around the grounds of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

On Tuesday they’ll have two big reasons to cheer, as Victoria Mboko and Felix Auger-Aliassime take the court with an eye on reaching the quarterfinals. Mboko, a rapidly rising 19-year-old making her debut in the California desert, is a bright, shining beacon for a nation that has made a habit of producing top players over the last decade and a half.

First there was Milos Raonic, who reached a Wimbledon final. Then there was Genie Bouchard, who did the same. Years later came Bianca Andreescu, a champion here and also at the US Open in 2019, and Denis Shapovalov, an electrifiying Top 10 talent.

These days Mboko is considered to be the future of Canadian tennis. Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old who turned pro in 2017, knows a thing or two about those expectations. The Montreal native was once considered the future of Canadian tennis as well. Now he’s the present; a tried-and-true veteran with wisdom to burn.

Close-knit group

Auger-Aliassime's wisdom is a valuable resource to have for a nation that produces rising stars with regularity. The World No.9, who faces Arthur Fils in the round of 16 on Tuesday, has his own goals to worry about, but he keeps a keen eye on up-and-coming players and is ready to offer help whenever it is needed.

“I am always happy when the other Canadian tennis players are doing well,” the 25-year-old said in a recent interview in Rotterdam. “We all support each other so everyone can have the best career possible. We are all very good friends, and on the women’s side as well, it is amazing to see a girl like Mboko being so young and playing such amazing tennis. She is playing at an incredibly high level.”

Auger-Aliassime defeated another rising Canadian on Sunday night; Gabriel Diallo. The roots run deep between the two, as Diallo moved to Quebec when he was a youngster and lived with Auger-Aliassime’s father to train.

At the time, Auger-Aliassime was just about to make the transition from junior to pro, so he wasn’t around as much, but he remained close to Diallo, and the families were close as well.

After Sunday’s win, his second in two tries over Diallo, Auger-Aliassime admitted that it’s tricky to play against a close friend like the World No. 33. He said there’s “a bit of tension” but added that he is thrilled to see Diallo find his footing and become a force on tour.

“It’s special because, yes, our families helped each other,” he said. “We were close. We still are, and I know he's doing his journey, and now he doesn't need me at all. He's flying, and he's a great player.”

Canadian pride

He’s also thrilled to see Mboko's rise. She claimed a breakthrough title in Montreal last year and entered the Top 10 for the first time after reaching another prestigious final in Doha in February.

“Vicky had a breakthrough year last year,” Auger-Aliassime said. “It was so much fun to watch. I think myself and my teammates, and all of Canada, we're really proud of her.”

Mboko has turned heads since the start of last year, when she reeled off a 20-match winning streak at the ITF level, then qualified for her Grand Slam debut at Roland Garros and reached the third round last spring.

In the last 15 months she has rocketed from outside the Top 300 to her current perch as World No. 10.

“She really has the chance to have an amazing career and win many Grand Slams, and I will be behind her if she ever needs me,” Auger-Aliassime said. “She can take care of herself, she is already a great player, but I will always be here for her.”

Here in Tennis Paradise, when the snowbirds fly, the Maple Leaf flies proudly with them.