Serena Williams: American’s Queen’s campaign in doubt after Victoria Mboko injury

Serena Williams’ doubles campaign at Queen’s was in jeopardy after her partner Victoria Mboko suffered a knee injury in her singles match against Carolina Pliskova.

The 44-year-old, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, returned to tennis on Tuesday, playing doubles with Mboko, after being away from the sport for almost four years.

The pair have secured third place but there is uncertainty about their quarter-final match on Thursday after Mboko suffered a bad fall.

The 19-year-old Canadian player slipped while hitting Pliskova’s forehand, fell to the ground holding her left knee, and screamed in pain.

Mboko managed to stand up and return to her chair a few minutes later, but she was visibly upset and covered her face with a towel before retiring and limping off the field in tears.

“It’s a shame. I thought we played a pretty good game and she was improving as the match went on,” said Pliskova, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist who led 6-2, 3-4.

“I wish him the best. This is not the way I want to win, I hope he does well at Wimbledon.”