Williams’ comeback halted by Mboko’s knee injury
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- Serena Williams won her first doubles match at the Queen's Club in straight sets on Tuesday, marking her first competitive outing since the 2022 US Open.
- Victoria Mboko suffered a left‑knee injury when she slipped during her singles match against Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday, forcing her to withdraw from the singles and be ruled out of the doubles competition.
- Victoria Mboko’ withdrawal meant the Williams‑Mboko pair could not play their quarterfinal against Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund, giving the latter a walkover.
- Leylah Fernandez will advance to the next round with partner Laura Siegemund by walkover after Mboko’s injury.
- Serena Williams said she will compete at next week’s Berlin Open, but her future participation at Wimbledon remains uncertain.
Why it matters: Mboko’s knee injury removes the Williams‑Mboko duo from the HSBC Championships, denying Williams a chance to test her comeback in doubles and handing a walkover to Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund, who progress without playing. The tournament also loses a marquee doubles matchup, potentially affecting audience interest.
