Serena Williams’ return to competitive tennis at the Queen’s Club has been abruptly halted after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, withdrew from the tournament due to a knee injury.
Tournament organisers confirmed on Thursday that Williams and Mboko had pulled out of the doubles draw at the Queen’s Club Championships, bringing an early end to their campaign before the second round.
Mboko, a rising Canadian player, sustained the injury during her singles match against Karolína Plíšková on Wednesday.
She was forced to retire while trailing 6-2, 3-4 in the second set and left the court in tears, raising concerns over her fitness ahead of Wimbledon.
The pairing had shown strong promise in their opening outing, defeating third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martínez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.
The victory marked Williams’ first competitive appearance since the 2022 U.S. Open and drew significant attention from fans and analysts alike.
The duo were scheduled to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the second round on Friday, but Mboko’s injury withdrawal brought an end to the match before it could be played.
Despite the setback, Williams is expected to continue her comeback at the Berlin Tennis Open, which begins on June 15, although her doubles partner for the event has not yet been confirmed.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion said: “Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception.”
She added: “I’m excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season.”
Williams’ next appearance will be closely watched as she continues her return to competitive tennis following a long absence from the tour, with fans eager to see how her comeback progresses on the grass-court swing.
