Serena Williams' return to professional tennis has been cut short at the Queen's Club tournament in west London after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, suffered a knee injury during a singles match. The 44-year-old Williams made a sensational comeback on Tuesday after a four-year hiatus, teaming up with Mboko to defeat third seeds Nicole Melichar Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6(2), 6-2. The pair were scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund on Thursday, but those plans were dashed when Mboko was forced to withdraw.
Mboko's Injury Details
Mboko, who was the third seed at Queen's Club, played her opening singles match on Wednesday after receiving a first-round bye. She faced former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova and had earned a break point in the second set after losing the first. However, during a rally, Mboko slipped on the grass after being wrong-footed and fell heavily, immediately clutching her left knee. She was unable to continue and retired from the match.
Grass Court Slipperiness
The courts at Queen's Club are renowned for being among the highest-quality grass surfaces on the tour, but their slick nature can be particularly treacherous in the early days of the tournament. Similar falls have occurred in past editions, with men's players also losing their footing and sustaining injuries after being wrong-footed on the grass.
Williams' Next Steps
Williams will now head to Berlin, where she has received a doubles wildcard entry. She is also expected to be among the doubles wildcard entries for Wimbledon when they are announced next week. However, the immediate future of Mboko, one of the tour's brightest young talents, remains uncertain as she deals with the injury and its implications.
