Serena Williams' doubles campaign ends due to partner's injury
Quick Look
- Serena Williams' return to tennis is cut short as her doubles partner Victoria Mboko withdraws from Queen's due to a left knee injury sustained in her singles match.
- The pair were set to play their quarter-final on Thursday.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, made her return to tennis after a nearly four-year absence at the Queen's doubles tournament. She and her partner Victoria Mboko had won their first match.
Serena Williams' doubles campaign at Queen's has been curtailed as her playing partner Victoria Mboko has withdrawn with a left knee injury.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, 44, made her return to tennis on Tuesday after almost four years away from the sport.
The pair had been scheduled to play their quarter-final on Thursday but Mboko, 19, suffered a nasty fall in her singles match on Wednesday, which forced her to retire from the match.
Trailing 6-2 3-4 against Karolina Pliskova, the Canadian teenager cried out in pain as she went down clutching her knee and she limped off the court in tears.
It means her compatriot Leylah Fernandez and Germany's Laura Siegemund, who they were scheduled to face in the doubles on Thursday evening, advance to the semi-finals.
Williams returned with a winning performance on Tuesday as she and Mboko won 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 to upset third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
Playing 1,375 days after her last competitive match, Williams - one of the greatest players of all time - didn't look a touch out of place as she rediscovered her powerful serve and groundstrokes.
Open Questions
- What is the severity of Victoria Mboko's knee injury?
- Will Serena Williams continue playing singles or other tournaments?
- How long will Victoria Mboko be sidelined?
- What is the timeline for Serena Williams' potential return to singles play?
