Serena Williams wins comeback match at Queen's before partner Victoria Mboko suffers season-ending knee injury

A winning return

After more than three years away from the WTA Tour, Serena Williams stepped back onto the grass at the Queen's Club on Tuesday 9 June. The 44-year-old American, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, partnered 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, herself ranked world No. 9 in singles. The pair faced Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, the world No. 15 and No. 11 in doubles respectively, and prevailed 7–6(2), 6–2 in an hour and a half. Williams served at 190 km/h and fired a string of aces, showing little sign of her long lay-off since the 2022 US Open.

Injury on the singles court

Mboko's schedule doubled up, and the day after the doubles win she took to the court for her first singles match against Karolina Pliskova. In the second set, with Pliskova leading 6–2, 3–4, Mboko slipped heavily on the turf. The fall caused a medial collateral ligament injury to her left knee. She was unable to leave the court unaided and was treated immediately by medical staff. The diagnosis ruled her out of the remainder of the Queen's tournament and, as Mboko later confirmed, the entire grass-court season including Wimbledon (29 June–12 July).

Forced withdrawal

Mboko's injury automatically ended the doubles campaign for the American. Williams and Mboko had been due to face the Fernandez–Siegmund pairing in the quarter-finals on Friday, but were forced to scratch. The abrupt halt has been described by Mboko as premature and deeply disappointing for both players.

“Unfortunately, my fall on Wednesday resulted in an MCL injury to my left knee, which means I will miss the rest of the grass season and therefore Wimbledon, a tournament I was so looking forward to playing this year.”

Next steps for Williams

Williams will attempt to build match sharpness at the Berlin grass-court event starting on 15 June. Reports indicate she is likely to partner Czech world No. 10 Karolina Muchova there. A potential Wimbledon invitation remains in play, fuelling speculation of a singles comeback and a possible doubles reunion with her sister Venus, now 45 and still active on tour.

“I learned so much playing alongside you and I'm so sorry our tournament ended prematurely, but I hope we can play together again soon and finish what we started.”

Mboko's setback halts a meteoric season that had marked her as one of the most exciting young players to watch on grass.