Victoria Mboko, the 19-year-old Canadian tennis player, was forced to withdraw from her singles debut at the 2026 HSBC Championships after suffering a fall during her first-round match at the Queen’s Club in London. Trailing Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 3-4 on the grass court, Mboko slipped and reportedly told her physiotherapist she felt she had “no stability.” The player limped back to her bench, covering her face with a towel, signaling the severity of the injury.
Despite an immediate medical timeout, Mboko was unable to continue, ending her singles run prematurely in this prestigious grass-court tournament. Seeded third for the event, her withdrawal not only impacted her singles campaign but also cast uncertainty over her participation in doubles.
Mboko Injury Looms Over Doubles Run with Serena Williams
Mboko’s injury now jeopardizes her doubles partnership with Serena Williams, the world No. 9, who has been making a highly anticipated return to competitive tennis. Williams, aged 44, resumed her WTA Tour career at the Queen’s Club after a nearly four-year hiatus, with her previous professional appearance dating back to the 2022 US Open.
The duo began their doubles campaign on a strong note, defeating the third-seeded pair of Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in straight sets, 7-6(2), 6-2. Their next challenge is set for Thursday’s quarterfinals, where they are slated to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund.
The extent of Mboko’s injury and her ability to recover in time will be crucial in determining if she and Williams can continue their pursuit of success in this WTA 500 event.