Serena Williams’ playing partner suffers injury in Queen Club tournament

Victoria Mboko’s season debut of singles on the grass court was cut short after sustaining a knee injury on Wednesday June 10.

The young star withdrew from her first-round singles match at The Queen’s Club after slipping behind the baseline and clutching her left knee.

Mboko, seeded third, was in her second set against Karolina Pliskova, former No 1. Pliskova secured the first set 6-2 but Mboko was up in the second 4-3.

While Mboko got up on her own, she limped towards the bench, sat down and put a towel to her face. Moments later, she withdrew from the match.

Mboko’s injury, the extent of which is not yet known, casts a shadow over the return of her Queen’s Club doubles partnership with the Serena Williams as well as Wimbledon in three weeks.

What’s next for Serena Williams in Queen’s Club?

Williams and Mboko are scheduled to play in the Queen’s Club quarterfinals on June 11 against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund.

Who is Serena Williams’ partner? Get to know Victoria Mboko

This 19-year-old Canadian player has made a name for herself. Mboko is ranked ninth in singles and has already secured two singles titles — the 2025 Canadian Open and 2025 Hong Kong Open. She has also won multiple ITF Circuit single titles including back-to-back Saskatoon (2022, 2023) and 2024 Darmstadt.

Though it’s not clear why Mboko and Williams partnered up, Mboko was thrilled with the opportunity to play with her idol. On a recent Instagram post by Mboko she wrote, “Can’t name a better way to start the grass szn,” while tagging Williams.

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