By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Picture credit score: Hong Kong Open Fb
A scary crash to the grass knocked Victoria Mboko out of Queen’s Membership right this moment.
The 19-year-old Canadian star retired with an obvious knee damage after tumbling to the court docket whereas trailing Karolina Pliskova, 2-6, 4-3 on the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Membership
Returning serve in opposition to Pliskova within the second set right this moment, Mboko was shifting proper when the previous No. 1 hit a drive behind her. Making an attempt to alter path, Mboko slipped right into a break up on the Queen’s Membership grass, flung her Wilson racquet behind her and instantly clutched at her left knee in ache.
The physio helped a tearful Mboko to her courtside seat the place she sat for a number of moments showing to press tears from her eyes together with her towel. Mboko retired saying “I’m sorry” to Pliskova earlier than slowly pacing towards the locker room.
second of Victoria Mboko damage pic.twitter.com/owEUH89EDe
— ONLY WTA 🥎🥇 (@never_minds74) June 10, 2026
Vicky Mboko retires from her match in opposition to Karolina Pliskova at Queen’s Membership down 2-6, 3-4
She slipped on the grass and injured her knee it appears to be like like
Terrible to see this forward of Wimbledon.
Her doubles with Serena Williams appears to be like unlikely now…
Hoping she recovers shortly. ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/f9JYdkIChM
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 10, 2026
“Initially, such a disgrace,” Pliskova stated. “We performed fairly recreation. I believe she was bettering because the match was going.
“I want her solely the very best in fact this isn’t the best way I need to win. Hopefully she’s gonna be tremendous for Wimbledon.”
The 2021 Wimbledon finalist Pliskova will face both Czech compatriot Marie Bouzkova or fortunate loser and former Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekic for a semifinal spot at Queen’s Membership.
The obvious knee damage comes a day after Mboko partnered 44-year-old icon Serena Williams in a profitable doubles comeback win on the identical Andy Murray Area court docket.
Williams and 19-year-old associate Mboko defeated third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6(2), 6-2 of their Queen’s Membership opening match yesterday. Mboko and Williams are scheduled to play their second doubles match tomorrow in opposition to Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund, nevertheless it seems extremely unlikely the Canadian teenager will play given her damage.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams is on the entry record for subsequent week’s Berlin Tennis Open the place she’s reportedly planning on enjoying doubles alongside both Coco Gauff or Karolina Muchova although she’s not introduced a definitive associate but.
Three years, 9 months and 6 days after her loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in her final professional match on the 2022 US Open, Serena returned earlier than a totally packed Andy Murray Area and, maybe surprisingly, seemed lots just like the Serena Williams all of us recall.
“There have been so many occasions within the match the place we have been form of like: This might be so a lot better, we might be doing a little extra,” Mboko stated. “It was a bit humorous, it added a bit humor to it, it form of made me extra relaxed.
“On the finish of the day, we simply went for it. Each of our recreation kinds, I really feel, complement every rather well and that actually helped us get by means of right this moment.”
That shiny begin got here to an abrupt and painful finish right this moment in what was Mboko’s second main-draw grass-court occasion after the 2025 Wimbledon.
Right here’s hoping Mboko can recuperate from the knee damage to play Wimbledon, which is about for June 29-July twelfth.
Earlier, the 2025 Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova charged by means of seven video games in a row dismissing German spin artist Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-3.
The second-seeded Anisimova broke serve 4 occasions in a 65-minute victory.
“I believed it was an amazing match for me, and I really feel like I actually began effectively, additionally, which is necessary, being the primary match on the grass,” Anisimova stated. “It’s by no means straightforward. Additionally had a extremely tough opponent right this moment that I by no means performed earlier than, so I used to be actually prepared for it.
“Yeah, I’m pleased with the best way I performed and the best way I managed the climate. General, simply completely happy and looking out ahead to the following one.”
Anisimova, the 2025 Queen’s Membership runner-up to Tatjana Maria, will play compatriot Iva Jovic in an all-American quarterfinal.
The sixth-seeded Jovic swept left-hander Alexandra Eala 6-2, 6-2.
“I really feel like she’s been enjoying some actually nice tennis. She’s additionally been a really constant participant,” Anisimova stated of Jovic. “She’s very secure, particularly at such a younger age. It’s been actually spectacular to look at her and see her come alongside.
“By no means performed her, so it is going to be an thrilling match. Wanting ahead to it. I at all times look ahead to enjoying a participant that I’ve by no means performed earlier than. I really feel like you may at all times study one thing from it. Yeah, I’m positive it’s going to be an amazing match. Yeah, she’s very spectacular.”
