Serena Williams’ comeback at Queen’s Club is cut short after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, withdraws with a left knee injury. Multiple outlets report that Mboko sustains the problem during her singles match at the tournament after slipping and falling on the grass. She then retires from the singles match during the second set against Karolína Plíšková. With Mboko unable to play, Williams’ women’s doubles campaign ends early, and the scheduled doubles match on Thursday does not take place.
Earlier, Williams had returned to competitive tennis at Queen’s, partnering Mboko to a win over the third-seeded team of Nicole Melichar Martinez and Erin Routliffe on Tuesday. The pair had been set to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund on Thursday, but they withdraw following Mboko’s injury. Several reports characterize the incident as an injury scare or slip leading to knee trouble, and they consistently note that Mboko’s withdrawal determines the outcome for the Williams doubles draw.
