Serena’s Queen’s Club Comeback Ends as Injured Mboko Withdraws
By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, June 11, 2026
Photo credit: Serena Williams Instagram
Serena Williams’ Queen’s Club comeback was cut short.
Montreal champion Victoria Mboko, who partnered 44-year-old Serena to a 7-6(2), 6-2 win over third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in their Queen’s Club opening doubles match on Tuesday officially withdrew from the HSBC Championships today due to injury.
The 19-year-old Mboko retired with an apparent knee injury after tumbling to the court while trailing Karolina Pliskova, 2-6, 4-3 at the HSBC Championships yesterday.
Returning serve against Pliskova in the second set yesterday, Mboko was moving right when the former No. 1 hit a drive behind her. Trying to change direction, Mboko slipped into a split on the Queen’s Club grass, flung her Wilson racquet behind her and immediately clutched at her left knee in pain.
The physio helped a tearful Mboko to her courtside seat where she sat for a few moments appearing to press tears from her eyes with her towel. Mboko retired moments later telling Pliskova “I’m sorry.”
Today, Williams wished Mboko a speedy recovery in an Instagram post.
“What a fun and memorable week at @hsbcchampionships. Thank you to everyone who made it so special,” Williams posted. “Wishing you a speedy recovery, @vickymboko. Can’t wait to see you back on court.”
Three years, nine months and six days after her loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in her last pro match at the 2022 US Open, Serena returned before a completely packed Andy Murray Arena and, perhaps surprisingly, looked a lot like the Serena Williams we all recall.
Now, Williams moves on to the grass of Berlin, where she’s been given a doubles wild card and is expected to partner former French Open finalist Karolina Muchova in doubles.
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