Serena Williams’ Queen’s Club Comeback Ends Early After Partner Victoria Mboko Withdraws

Posted : 11 June 2026

Serena Williams’ much-anticipated return to professional tennis has come to an early conclusion after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, withdrew from the Queen’s Club tournament due to injury.

The American icon made headlines earlier this week when she returned to competitive action for the first time in four years. Teaming up with Canadian teenager Mboko, Williams secured a straight-sets victory in the opening round, sparking excitement among tennis fans eager to see the 23-time Grand Slam champion back on court.

The pair had been scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals on Thursday. However, Mboko was forced to pull out after failing to recover from a left knee injury sustained during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova a day earlier.

The 19-year-old suffered the injury after slipping on the court and was unable to complete the match. The awkward fall left her visibly distressed, and medical staff attended to her before she eventually retired. Concerned about worsening the problem, Mboko decided against competing in the doubles event.

Tournament organisers later confirmed her withdrawal, bringing Williams’ campaign at Queen’s Club to an unexpected end.

Williams is now expected to continue her comeback at next week’s Berlin Open, where reports suggest she could partner Czech player Karolina Muchova in the doubles competition. The former world number one is also weighing up the possibility of appearing at Wimbledon, although she has yet to make a final decision.

The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion would require a wildcard entry to compete at the All England Club, as her current ranking is insufficient for automatic qualification. Williams has previously enjoyed tremendous success at Wimbledon, winning seven singles titles and six doubles crowns alongside her sister Venus.

Her surprise return has been one of the biggest stories in tennis this season. Williams revealed that a desire to compete in front of her daughters, Olympia and Adira, played a major role in her decision to come back after retiring in 2022.

Despite the long absence, Williams showed flashes of her trademark power and competitiveness during her opening match, delighting spectators with her serve and groundstrokes. Nevertheless, she was modest when evaluating her performance, suggesting there was still plenty of room for improvement as she adjusts to life back on tour.

Although her Queen’s Club journey ended sooner than expected, Williams’ successful return has reignited interest in what could be the next chapter of one of tennis’s most celebrated careers.

Serena Williams’ Queen’s Club Comeback Ends Early After Partner Victoria Mboko Withdraws

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