What is Victoria Mboko's injury?

Victoria Mboko injured the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in her left knee after slipping on the grass court during a singles match at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club.

Will Victoria Mboko play at Wimbledon?

No. Due to the MCL injury in her left knee, Mboko announced she will miss the remainder of the grass court season, which includes her withdrawal from the Wimbledon championships.

What happened to the Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko doubles team?

The doubles team of Mboko and Serena Williams withdrew from the HSBC Championships after their first-round win because of Mboko's injury. Their opponents, Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund, received a walkover into the semi-finals.

Victoria Mboko's Knee Injury Ends Doubles Run with Serena Williams

Darren Leung

ATP, WTA, rankings

Published June 24, 2026Last updated June 29, 2026

canada wta doubles

Canadian Victoria Mboko sustained a left knee injury during a singles match at the HSBC Championships, forcing her to retire from the tournament. The injury, later identified as an MCL issue, also ended her high-profile doubles partnership with Serena Williams and will cause her to miss the remainder of the grass court season, including Wimbledon.

Key facts

Victoria Mboko slipped and injured her left knee during her round of 16 singles match against Karolina Pliskova at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club. (source)
Tests later confirmed an injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), forcing her to withdraw from the remainder of the grass season, including Wimbledon. (source)
The injury forced Mboko and partner Serena Williams to withdraw from the doubles event, giving a walkover victory to Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund. (source)
Mboko and Williams had won their opening doubles match against Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe before the injury occurred. (source)

Canadian Victoria Mboko’s grass-court season has ended after a knee injury forced her to retire from a singles match at the HSBC Championships in London. The injury also brought a premature end to her high-profile doubles partnership with Serena Williams, according to multiple reports. Mboko, 19, slipped during her round of 16 match against Karolina Pliskova.

What happened during the match?

Mboko injured her left knee after slipping behind the baseline while playing Karolina Pliskova. She was down a set but leading 4-3 in the second when the incident occurred, according to the Qatar Tribune. After receiving medical attention, she was able to walk to her bench but ultimately retired from the match. The official reason for the retirement was a left knee injury.

How severe is the injury?

Tests revealed an injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in her left knee. In a social media post reported by Yahoo! Sports, Mboko confirmed the injury would cause her to miss the rest of the grass season. This withdrawal includes the upcoming Wimbledon championships, a tournament she had been looking forward to playing.

What does this mean for the doubles partnership?

The injury forced Mboko and Serena Williams to withdraw from the doubles competition at the Queen's Club event. The pair had won their opening match against Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe, as reported by AOL.com. Their scheduled second-round opponents, fellow Canadian Leylah Fernandez and her partner Laura Siegemund, advanced to the semi-finals on a walkover.

Despite the injury, Mboko was seen at Wimbledon Village for off-court commitments with fellow player Alexandra Eala, wearing a knee brace, according to Yahoo! Sports. Her team is now focused on her recovery and eventual return to the court.

Sources

AOL.com: Serena Williams’ tennis comeback ends early with injury heartbreak at Queen’s. The Independent, 2026-06-26.
Qatar Tribune: Mboko’s doubles partnership with Serena in doubt after injury during singles. PA Media/DPA, 2026-06-27.
Yahoo! Sports: Victoria Mboko Spotted at Wimbledon Village With Alexandra Eala, Wearing a Knee Brace After Withdrawal. 2026-06-27.

Reported from public sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Victoria Mboko's injury?: Victoria Mboko injured the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in her left knee after slipping on the grass court during a singles match at the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club.
Will Victoria Mboko play at Wimbledon?: No. Due to the MCL injury in her left knee, Mboko announced she will miss the remainder of the grass court season, which includes her withdrawal from the Wimbledon championships.
What happened to the Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko doubles team?: The doubles team of Mboko and Serena Williams withdrew from the HSBC Championships after their first-round win because of Mboko's injury. Their opponents, Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund, received a walkover into the semi-finals.