Serena Williams returned to competitive tennis with a win in her first doubles match at the WTA tour event at Queen’s Club. But the tennis great’s second match looks doubtful after her doubles partner Victoria Mboko was forced to retire in her opening singles match.
The 44-year-old made the most awaited comeback to tennis on Tuesday in London alongside Canadian teenager Mboko in their first doubles match, where they beat Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe.
They are now set to take on Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund on Thursday in the grass-court tournament, which serves as a warm-up event ahead of Wimbledon.
Meanwhile, Mboko, who had received a first-round bye in the singles draw, was trailing by a set but leading Karolina Pliskova 4-3 in the second set before slipping while attempting to chase down a shot behind the baseline, and was forced into an awkward split, drawing concerned reactions from the crowd.
The 19-year-old looked distressed as medical staff rushed to attend to her. Although she managed to get back on her feet, she was clearly struggling. The official reason for her retirement was a left knee injury, with Mboko heard saying on a courtside microphone, “there is no stability right now”.
She covered her face with a towel while discussing the injury with her team. After several minutes, the umpire announced her retirement from the match, prompting a warm and sympathetic round of applause from the spectators.
