Omotayo Fashola
(Victoria Mboko grimaces after a fall on the grass. Photo by CBC)
Serena Williams’ hopes of clinching the Queen’s Club doubles championship in her tennis comeback were dashed Thursday when her partner, Victoria Mboko, withdrew due to injury.
Williams had electrified fans earlier in the week, teaming up with Mboko for a dominant first-round victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe—her first competitive match in four years.
The duo was scheduled to compete against Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals of the prestigious grass-court tournament in London.
However, Mboko, still nursing a left knee injury from her singles match against Karolina Pliskova, opted to withdraw. The Canadian teen had slipped during play, later telling medical staff, “It doesn’t feel stable.”
Ranked ninth globally, the 19-year-old decided against risking further damage by continuing in the doubles event alongside Williams.
Tournament officials confirmed the withdrawal, shifting focus to Williams’ next appearance at the Berlin Open doubles, where she is rumored to pair with Karolina Muchova.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion remains undecided about extending her comeback to Wimbledon, though she hinted earlier in the week that doubles participation at the All England Club isn’t off the table.
Williams, whose ranking is too low for direct entry, would need a wildcard to compete at Wimbledon. Tournament CEO Sally Bolton acknowledged the buzz surrounding Williams’ return, stating wildcard decisions would be finalized soon.
“Her comeback has brought incredible energy to the sport,” Bolton remarked.
Williams’ return after 1,375 days away from competition drew worldwide attention, with her daughters, Olympia and Adira, cheering from the stands during her victorious doubles debut.
Despite the win, Williams graded her performance modestly: “A C-minus? Grass isn’t the easiest surface after such a long break, but it was decent.”
