Serena Williams’ Queen’s Comeback In Doubt As Victoria Mboko Suffers Knee Injury

Last Updated:June 11, 2026, 08:41 IST

Serena Williams’ Queen’s return has hit a setback after doubles partner Victoria Mboko suffered a knee injury and retired in tears, leaving their quarter-final hopes uncertain.

Serena Williams’ much-anticipated return to competitive tennis has been thrown into uncertainty after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, suffered a worrying knee injury at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion, now 44, made her comeback to professional tennis on Tuesday after nearly four years away from the sport. Teaming up with Canadian teenager Mboko, Williams helped pull off an impressive upset over the tournament’s third seeds to reach the doubles quarter-finals.

However, their campaign could now be over before it truly gets going.

Mboko Injured During Singles Clash

Mboko’s injury came during her first-round singles match against former Wimbledon finalist and Czech veteran Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Canadian had lost the opening set 6-2 but was fighting back strongly in the second, trailing 3-4 and holding a break-point opportunity when disaster struck.

While chasing down a forehand from Pliskova, Mboko slipped on the grass and immediately collapsed to the court clutching her left knee. The teenager cried out in pain and remained down for several moments before eventually managing to stand and make her way back to her chair.

Although she walked under her own power, Mboko was visibly distressed. She covered her face with a towel while receiving medical attention before ultimately retiring from the match. She later limped off court in tears.

Doubles Participation Now Uncertain

The injury has raised serious concerns about whether Mboko will be able to return for Thursday’s doubles quarter-final alongside Williams.

Their partnership had quickly become one of the biggest stories of the tournament, with Williams making her first appearance since stepping away from the game in 2022.

Pliskova, who was leading 6-2, 3-4 when the match ended, expressed sympathy for her opponent.

“It’s such a shame. I think we played quite a good game and she was improving as the match was going on," Pliskova said.

“I wish her only the best. It’s not the way I want to win so hopefully she is going to be fine for Wimbledon."

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Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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