By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, June 11, 2026
Photograph credit score: Serena Williams Instagram
Serena Williams’ Queen’s Membership comeback was minimize brief.
Montreal champion Victoria Mboko, who partnered 44-year-old Serena to a 7-6(2), 6-2 win over third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe of their Queen’s Membership opening doubles match on Tuesday formally withdrew from the HSBC Championships immediately on account of damage.
The 19-year-old Mboko retired with an obvious knee damage after tumbling to the court docket whereas trailing Karolina Pliskova, 2-6, 4-3 on the HSBC Championships yesterday.
Returning serve towards Pliskova within the second set yesterday, Mboko was transferring proper when the previous No. 1 hit a drive behind her. Making an attempt to vary 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 moments later telling Pliskova “I’m sorry.”
Wimbledon begins on June twenty ninth. Mboko’s standing is unsure at this level.
Right this moment, Williams wished Mboko a speedy restoration in an Instagram submit.
“What a enjoyable and memorable week at @hsbcchampionships. Thanks to everybody who made it so particular,” Williams posted. “Wishing you a speedy restoration, @vickymboko. Can’t wait to see you again on court docket.”
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 very packed Andy Murray Area and, maybe surprisingly, seemed quite a bit just like the Serena Williams all of us recall.
Now, Williams strikes on to the grass of Berlin, the place she’s been given a doubles wild card and is predicted to companion former French Open finalist Karolina Muchova in doubles.
