Williams’ Queen’s Campaign Ends as Mboko Withdraws with Injury
The 44-year-old former Grand Slam champion had returned to the sport on Tuesday, but her tournament run was curtailed when Victoria Mboko suffered a left knee injury.
Serena Williams’ participation in the Queen’s Club tournament has concluded following the withdrawal of her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko. The 19-year-old Mboko was forced to pull out of the scheduled quarter-final match on Thursday due to a left knee injury, ending the pair’s campaign at the event.
Mboko’s withdrawal came after she suffered a fall during her singles match on Wednesday. The incident necessitated her retirement from that contest, with reports describing the fall as nasty. While the specific severity of the knee injury has not been detailed beyond the requirement for withdrawal, it was sufficient to prevent her from competing in the subsequent doubles tie.
Williams, 44, had returned to professional tennis on Tuesday after an absence of almost four years. As a 23-time Grand Slam champion, her return to the court was a significant focal point of the tournament. However, her involvement at Queen’s Club was limited to the doubles event, where she partnered with Mboko.
The pair was set to contest their quarter-final on Thursday, but Mboko’s injury ruled her out of the match. Williams’ campaign therefore ended without her taking to the court for the scheduled doubles tie, marking an abrupt conclusion to her return to competitive play at this specific venue.
The outcome highlights the physical demands of the tournament schedule, particularly for players returning from extended breaks. Williams’ return was noted as a major development in the tennis calendar, but the structural integrity of the doubles partnership was compromised by Mboko’s early exit from the singles draw.
