SERENA WILLIAMS’ DOUBLES MATCH IN DOUBT AFTER PARTNER VICTORIA MBOKO SUFFERS INJURY
In a surprising turn of events at the WTA tournament at Queen’s Club, Canada’s Victoria Mboko, currently ranked ninth in the world, faced a potential setback as she injured her knee during a last-16 match against Karolina Pliskova. The incident occurred on Wednesday when Mboko slipped while attempting to change direction, leading to concerns about her participation in the upcoming doubles quarter-finals alongside tennis legend Serena Williams.
The 19-year-old Canadian had impressed audiences just a day prior by teaming up with the iconic 44-year-old Williams to secure a victory against the third-seeded duo of Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe. Their successful match marked Williams’ return to competitive play after almost four years away from the sport, generating significant excitement.
Prior to the injury, Mboko was trailing Pliskova with a score of 6-2, 3-4 and had earned a break point when her accident occurred. The circumstances of the event were particularly distressing, as she appeared visibly emotional and uncomfortable when she was assisted off the court and ultimately decided to retire from the match.
Following this incident, Williams and Mboko were slated to compete against Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals, scheduled for Thursday. The outcome of Mboko’s injury will be closely monitored, as it could impact not only her own tournament aspirations but also Williams’ long-awaited comeback season.
Earlier in the tournament, amid varying weather conditions, second seed Amanda Anisimova showcased a powerful performance by easily defeating Laura Siegemund with a score of 6-1, 6-3. Anisimova’s victory set the stage for a quarter-final clash against fellow American Iva Jovic, who also advanced smoothly after defeating Alexandra Eala 6-2, 6-2.
