Serena Williams' Doubles Comeback Cut Short by Partner's Injury

Tennis star Serena Williams' much-anticipated doubles comeback at Queen's Club was unexpectedly cut short when her partner, Victoria Mboko, withdrew due to a knee injury. After a strong start in their opening match, the duo faced a sudden halt before the quarter-finals. Despite this setback, Williams is set to return to action in Berlin next week, potentially partnering with Karolina Muchova. The tennis community is left wondering about her plans for Wimbledon. Read on for more details about this unfolding story.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 12, 2026, 02:00 IST

Unexpected End to Williams' Doubles Return

London [UK], June 11: Tennis icon Serena Williams faced an unexpected halt in her doubles comeback at Queen's Club when her partner, Victoria Mboko, had to withdraw from their quarter-final match due to a left knee injury.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, now 44 years old, made her much-anticipated return to competitive tennis on Tuesday, stepping onto the court for the first time in 1,375 days since her last professional appearance, according to Olympics.com.

Williams and Mboko made a strong start, defeating the third-seeded duo of Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez with a score of 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 in their opening match.

Unfortunately, their promising journey was abruptly halted before they could compete in the quarter-finals, as Mboko's injury led to their withdrawal from the tournament.

Mboko, aged 19, suffered the knee injury during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday. While trailing 6-2, 3-4, she collapsed on the court, clutching her knee and was forced to retire in tears.

Consequently, Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund advanced to the semi-finals without having to play, receiving a walkover.

Despite this setback, Williams' comeback is not over. The former world No. 1 is anticipated to return to the court for the doubles event in Berlin next week, where she is expected to team up with Czech player Karolina Muchova, currently ranked No. 10 in the world.

It remains uncertain whether Williams will participate in the Wimbledon Championships, as she has not yet publicly announced her plans for the prestigious grass-court tournament.