Victoria Mboko withdrew from her singles match at the Queen’s Club in London after slipping and grabbing her left knee against Karolina Pliskova. With a women’s doubles match with Serena Williams scheduled for June 11 at Andy Murray Arena, her injury has put t
When Victoria Mboko slipped and grabbed at her left knee on the grass at Queen’s Club in London, the match stopped moving forward for her—at least for that day.
On Wednesday, the 19-year-old retired early from her singles match against Karolina Pliskova after an apparent knee injury. She was moving laterally across the court trying to reach a Pliskova forehand when she slipped, then did not play another point.
Before Mboko’s withdrawal, Pliskova had taken the first set 6-2. In the second set, Mboko was up 4-3 when the injury ended the contest.
Pliskova acknowledged the abruptness of the finish. “We played quite a good game today,” she said. “(Mboko) was improving as the match was going. so it would have been a nice match. but I wish her only the best. Of course, this is not the way we want to win, so hopefully she’s going to be fine for Wimbledon.”.
For Mboko, the question now shifts from the scoreboard to her next scheduled appearance: her current doubles plan with Serena Williams.
Mboko is currently slated to play doubles with Williams on Thursday, June 11 at Andy Murray Arena. Williams, who came out of retirement earlier this month, has been working her way back to pro tennis. The two players’ momentum has been real—fast.
On June 9, Mboko and Williams defeated American Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2, during the first round of the HSBC Championships women’s doubles.
Now, with Mboko’s knee injury derailing her singles run at Queen’s Club, her doubles schedule is at stake just as her return with Williams had found a winning rhythm.
Victoria Mboko Serena Williams Queen's Club Andy Murray Arena Wimbledon HSBC Championships Karolina Pliskova doubles