Victoria Mboko injury casts doubt on Serena Williams' doubles return at Queen's Club

Serena Williams' return to professional tennis at the Queen's Club has been cut short after her doubles partner, 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, suffered a knee injury. Mboko was forced to withdraw from the draw on Thursday, ending the pair's participation in the tournament.

Williams and Mboko had successfully played their opening doubles match on Tuesday, defeating the third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2. This marked Williams' first professional match since the 2022 U.S. Open. The pair was scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Mboko sustained the knee injury during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday. She informed a physiotherapist of instability in her knee before retiring from the match. Williams, 44, is still slated to play doubles at the Berlin Open next week, though her partner has not yet been announced.