Williams' Queen's Campaign in Doubt Following Mboko Injury
Victoria Mboko faced a critical moment during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova when she suffered a severe fall while attempting to reach a forehand shot.
Serena Williams' doubles campaign at the Queen's Club is now uncertain after her partner, Victoria Mboko, sustained a knee injury in her singles match versus Karolina Pliskova.
The 44-year-old 23-time Grand Slam champion returned to competitive tennis on Tuesday after nearly four years away, partnering with Mboko in doubles.
The duo successfully eliminated the third seeds, but their participation in the quarter-final match scheduled for Thursday is now in question due to Mboko's injury.
The 19-year-old Canadian cried out in pain after slipping while reaching for Pliskova's forehand, falling and clutching her left knee.
Although Mboko managed to stand and walk back to her chair shortly after, she appeared distressed, covering her face with a towel before retiring from the match and limping off the court in tears.
"It's such a shame. I think we played quite a good game and she was improving as the match was going on," said 2021 Wimbledon finalist Pliskova, who was leading 6-2, 3-4 at the time.
"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."
Williams' Return at Queen's
Mboko and Williams are set to face Canada's Leylah Fernandez and Germany's Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals on Thursday, with the match scheduled for 17:30 BST.
"It's a heartbreaker, you hate to see that," former British number one Annabel Croft commented on BBC Two. "She would've been so excited to play with Serena once again.
"It's just a classic grass-court injury where the legs go in different directions and then you twist the knee. You just hope and pray that she's not out for Wimbledon."
Wimbledon, the only grass-court Grand Slam event, is set to begin on Monday, 29 June.
"She's absolutely devastated and it's devastating for all the fans watching her because she's such a great, bright hope and doing so well out there on the tour," Croft added.
Williams Makes Winning Return at Queen's
Williams' return to competitive tennis at Queen's has been marked by a successful doubles performance alongside Mboko, though the injury now casts doubt on their continued participation in the tournament.
